Fast growing London teams are not bouncing between leases. They are buying time and quality with flexi and managed office space. Moves in 2024 delivered bigger footprints and better buildings.
With office options that work harder, the result is net growth and stronger positioning, not churn.
What does the London office reset really show?
The London office space market is undergoing deliberate capacity building by firms that expect to hire and scale. Cushman and Wakefield reports 531 Central London deals covering 9.7 million square feet in 2024, with occupiers expanding space by 38% on average and creating 3.27 million square feet of net growth. This is the opposite of instability.
Quality is the new filter. 65% of all leased space in 2024 was Grade A, up from 45% pre-pandemic, with Q2 2025 take-up reaching a record 80% Grade A share, according to research from Cushman and Wakefield.
Further confirming this “more and better” shift, Bloomberg coverage adds that 70% of movers took more space.
Scarcity is the kicker. Analysis from the Association of Investment Companies shows only 5.9 million square feet of Grade A is due to complete beyond 2025, which is under a year of demand.
With City A.M. reporting that renewals hit 60% in 2024, the minority who choose to move are locking in quality before the window narrows.
Key signals leaders are acting on:
- Frequent movers are capturing net growth rather than trading space.
- Grade A preference is now the market majority.
- Expansion plus upgrade beats renewal in secondary stock.
- Forward supply looks light relative to active demand.
- Institutional capital is following the same quality thesis.
All of this sets up the next question which is how timing and micro-location choices turn an 18-month move cycle into a measurable edge.
How does the 18 month move cycle turn timing into edge?
Frequent movers win on timing and micro-positioning. The average relocation distance was just 0.7 miles in 2024, in insights authored by Cushman and Wakefield. That signals local optimisation rather than flight.
A short hop can secure a better building, fuller amenities and stronger ESG without breaking network ties. South London is where this plays quietly to advantage.
Regenerating schemes open in phases, and teams that move on 18-month cycles catch those releases while rivals wait for expiry.
Price cycles sharpen the edge. West End prime rents rose 14% year on year to 160 pounds per square foot in Q1 2025, in reporting authored by City A.M.
Shorter cycles let scale-ups secure space ahead of surges and avoid inflated renewals. When scarcity bites, the teams already in tomorrow’s stock benefit from better lease terms and landlord attention.
Agility converts to competitive positioning. With the majority of firms renewing, the minority who move are capturing openings others miss.
Moving every 18 months keeps optionality live, preserves local networks and lets teams step into premium buildings as they complete south of the river.
The next step is execution, which means treating moves as growth investments and planning hyper-local decisions around milestones rather than lease dates.
How should teams execute moves as growth investments?
Start by keeping the orbit tight. Most successful office movers stay in their neighbourhood to protect client access and hiring pipelines. Cushman and Wakefield London Moves shows 64% of transactions stayed within the same business district.
Technology firms model this discipline with 61 relocations in 2023 and 24 staying inside their existing submarket.
Plan moves around growth milestones not expiry alarms. Tie location shifts to funding rounds, headcount thresholds, product launches and ESG upgrades.
Negotiate shorter initial terms with pre-agreed expansion rights and options on adjacent space. Knight Frank expects structural demand to rise through 2029 as legacy leases roll in the City Core.
What is the practical playbook?
A practical playbook brings order to what has become a volatile commercial real estate landscape. With vacancies tightening and incentives narrowing, expansion planning can no longer rely on opportunity alone. Organisations that treat leases as part of a broader capital strategy are the ones maintaining flexibility without overpaying for speed.
The steps below outline a methodical approach to mapping future growth triggers:
- Map 12 to 24-month growth triggers and back-solve target move windows.
- Ring-fence a hyper-local search zone that preserves client and talent catchments.
- Pre-wire expansion with rights of first refusal on contiguous floors.
- Blend a core lease with managed swing space to handle spikes.
- Run a two-landlord competition to secure incentives and spec lifts.
- Lock in digital infrastructure standards early to cut fit-out time.
- Prioritise South London schemes delivering in phases to step into new stock.
Reuters notes vacancies have tightened which makes option-rich leases more valuable as supply thins, and that is why operators who execute this cadence now will be best placed for the conclusion that follows.
How ADAPT gives growing companies an edge in a tight office market
Great office space in London is scarce – and when the best buildings go, they go fast. Most companies are now staying put, so when opportunities open up, smart teams need to act quickly and precisely. That’s where ADAPT comes into its own.
We help businesses find and secure high-quality office space – often before it even hits the market. Our team uses deep market insight and long-standing relationships to spot the right locations early, map growth plans, and negotiate flexible terms that fit your future.
We focus on what really matters:
- Location precision – keeping your team in the right area for clients and talent.
- Flexibility – securing short, smart contracts with options to expand later.
- Speed – delivering curated, off-market options within days, not weeks.
The result? Faster moves, better buildings, and deals that protect your growth without locking you into costly leases. With 20+ years of experience, ADAPT helps you stay ahead of scarcity – finding tomorrow’s space before everyone else does.
Scarcity rewards teams that move on their own clock, not the landlord’s or provider’s. Our job is to find you amazing office space and turn that cadence into compound advantage. We lock in top quality flexi and managed space, expansion options, and the micro-locations that matter.
Chris Meredith, ADAPT CEO & Founder
What can you do to get ahead of the 18-month move cycle?
If you’re raising funds, scaling headcount, , or stuck on a legacy lease-now is the time to act. Flexible space doesn’t just work better. It shows on your balance sheet better.
ADAPT can not only help you find a smarter, more flexible office (that fits your needs perfectly) but also set you up with the best possible solution for the future-timed to market releases and priced to avoid rent spikes.
We call it the ADAPT difference. Speak with our team to plan your next move around market releases, lease timing, and expansion goals.
