Destination Office: how occupiers are rethinking workspace strategy
With work patterns evolving and office attendance increasing, occupiers are taking a more decisive and strategic approach to their office portfolios. Irwin Mitchell’s Office Occupiers Survey 2026 explores how businesses are reconfiguring space, improving ESG performance and creating ‘Destination Offices’ that support people, productivity and long-term value.
Occupier priorities are changing
In collaboration with Markettiers, we surveyed over 500 UK senior decision-makers to understand their perspectives on future office opportunities and concerns. Our findings marked a clear evolution from the themes of 2025.
While our 2025 report reflected a market characterised by caution and uncertainty, our 2026 findings show a clear shift towards more confident decision-making.
Rather than relocating, more corporate occupiers are focusing on making better use of the space they already have. This has led to increased activity around reconfiguration projects, lease re-gearing, and the introduction of more flexible arrangements.
The 2026 report also shows a stronger emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), sustainability and data-led decision making. These factors are increasingly influencing how space is designed and used.
The report provides practical insight to support occupiers as they plan for the next 12–18 months. For organisations looking to turn insight into action, our Real Estate team can work with you to apply these findings to your property strategy.
Key findings
- More occupiers are planning to remain in existing premises compared to 2025
- Growing expectation of increased office attendance
- Reconfiguration now the most common strategy
- ESG considerations embedded in workspace planning and financing decisions
- Increased demand for external legal and professional advice.
The ‘Destination Office’
One of the key themes that emerged from the report is the repositioning of the office as a ‘destination’, rather than simply a place people go to work.
With hybrid working increasingly the norm, the physical workplace must offer clear purpose and value. This includes a stronger focus on employee experience, culture and brand, helping employees feel more connected to the business and giving them a compelling reason to come together in person.
Workspace design is therefore becoming more closely aligned with engagement and retention strategies, with layouts that support collaboration, meet sustainability goals and encourage employee wellbeing.
Delivering this kind of workplace experience requires greater collaboration between occupiers, landlords and advisers, and decisions about real estate now sit at the intersection of people, brand, ESG and commercial outcomes. For corporate occupiers, property strategy is no longer just about cost and space, but creating an environment that creates a sense of belonging.
Meet an expert from our Real Estate team
Our team support you to navigate complexity, seize opportunity and move forward with legal clarity.
How can Irwin Mitchell can help corporate occupiers?
We provide expert legal advice tailored to the needs of occupiers, supporting informed decision making across all stages of the real estate lifecycle.
Our services include:
- Strategic real estate advice
- Lease negotiations and re gearing
- Portfolio optimisation and reconfiguration
- ESG, sustainability and regulatory compliance
- Collaboration with landlords and third-party advisers
Together, these services demonstrate our ability to advise businesses across the full lifecycle of real estate decisions, acting as long-term partners to your in-house team for a seamless collaborative approach.
Find out more about our Corporate Occupier services.
ESG, Technology and Data
We’re passionate about Responsible Business, and our teams are committed to driving positive change to protect people, communities and the planet.
Our 2026 Office Occupier report explores how ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) considerations are now firmly embedded in occupier real estate strategy. It covers:
- Environmental performance and governance
- Use of proptech and data to manage energy, occupancy and compliance
- ESG/Green financing considerations
- Increasing reliance on external expertise to navigate complexity.
As a full-service firm, Irwin Mitchell is able to support clients across regulatory compliance, leasing strategy and sustainability-led decision making, working alongside occupiers as trusted legal advisors.
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