BCO claims office space has evolved

25 August 2011

Written by David Whittaker

Firms seeking commercial mortgages to purchase office space might want to consider how the use of this building has changed over the last few decades.

British Council for Offices (BCO) research committee chairman Matt Oakley noted there are more social spaces in business premises than there were 20 years ago.

"The concept of a break-out area" was "non-existent" at this time, he pointed out, adding that as much as half of the floor in these properties does not contain desks with PCs and "is not what we would call fixed address".

Furthermore, there has been a "massive decrease" in cellular office uptake, where employees had their own personal room, the expert argued.

Correspondingly, open-plan facilities have experienced a "significant rise", which is partly a reflection of the decline of hierarchical structures compared with "the days when a boss [would have] a corner office with a door", he claimed.

However, most modern workplaces also have air conditioning, which a poll by uSwitchforbusiness.com found is considered inferior to fresh air by 68 per cent of respondents. 

Find out more on our commercial mortgages and how we can help you achieve your aims - enquire online.