Space, natural light and a bright décor are among the most important factors for occupiers when choosing office accommodation, a survey has found.
Senior executives responsible for acquiring new offices from 500 companies were asked which criteria most influenced their choice of premises in a survey commissioned by office provider Business Environment.
Internal layout and space fit-out was regarded by 59.6% of respondents as important, while 32.8% said a building’s external appearance influenced their decision.
Some 65.8% said they believed more space per person made for a happier workforce, with 49% saying that interior décor was important, as well as natural daylight and climate control (46.8%).
Contemporary office décor was preferred by 35.4%, while 25% liked the “coffice” approach with comfortable chairs and breakout areas.
Just over half (52.8%) believed having vending machines nearby was important, with 20% stating downtime activities such as pool tables and table tennis were a significant consideration.
Transport links were considered to be an important influence by 77% of respondents, while 61.4% said car parking and bicycle stands were important. Proximity to restaurants was considered to be important by 10.2%, while 15.8% said nearby shopping was a key influencing factor.
Only 6.8% of respondents said connectivity speed was critical. However, 46.8% said it was important or fairly important when selecting new offices.
