Looking Ahead: What UBC Expects from the 2026 Flexible Office Landscape
Looking Ahead: What UBC Expects from the 2026 Flexible Office Landscape
The close of 2025 brings a clearer view of the flexible workspace market than in previous years. While we usually see a pronounced uplift in enquiries, viewings and deals during the final quarter, this year has taken a different shape. With October as the latest complete data point, the trend is unmistakable: activity has been steady rather than spiking, and the market has behaved with a consistency that suggests a more mature, levelled outlook heading into 2026.
A Year Marked by Stability Rather Than Surges
Across the portfolio, enquiry volumes have remained balanced. January started strongly with a flurry of enquiries, followed by expected seasonal fluctuations, but the overall pattern remained even throughout the year, with no dramatic end-of-year uplift so far. October closed with enquiries slight below the level seen in September, but broadly in line with the general rhythm of 2025.
This steadiness does not signal lack of demand; it indicates a market moving with measured intent. Businesses are making decisions carefully and consistently, rather than in the sharp bursts we sometimes see in Q4.
Standout Patterns Across the Network
Certain centres continued to outperform throughout the year:
- UBC Brentford delivered the strongest enquiry volume overall, maintaining a solid flow every month.
- UBC Birmingham Business Park also had a robust year and showed depth across a wide range of business types.
- UBC London and UBC Edinburgh demonstrated continued confidence in established markets.
Meanwhile, some centres have shown meaningful late-year movement:
- UBC Henley-in-Arden and UBC Cirencester experienced a welcome uptick in deals in the latter part of the year, reflected in strong conversion rates.
- UBC Cheltenham, after a slow year, has recently seen viewings pick up which is an important indicator that interest is returning and likely to strengthen as we enter 2026.
These localised boosts offer encouraging signs as we prepare for the new year.
Conversion Rates Highlight Commitment
Conversion rates give a clearer indication of intent, and this year’s performance shows that when enquiries come through, they remain serious:
- Cirencester, Henley and Southampton all converted strongly.
- Brentford, with high enquiry volume, also achieved a healthy conversion rate, an important combination of quantity and quality.
- Birmingham Business Park delivered consistent results, reinforcing its status as one of the most active centres in the group.
Regional Strength Continues to Outperform City Volatility
Regional centres remain resilient, and in many cases, more predictable than major city markets. Edinburgh, Bath, Tunbridge Wells, Warrington, and Leeds all demonstrated stable enquiry patterns. These locations attract SMEs and professional services looking for value, convenience and strong community ties, factors that will remain defining features of 2026 demand.
A Market Preparing for Controlled Growth in 2026
Based on enquiry behaviour, conversion trends, and late-year momentum in selected centres, we anticipate:
- A consistent appetite for small private offices (1–6 desks).
- Continued interest from professional services, franchise operators and consultancy-led businesses.
- Expansion in the number of clients who combine office space with regular meeting room usage.
- Strengthening engagement in regions where centres actively invest in networking and community programmes.
2026 is unlikely to be a year of dramatic spikes, but it will reward steady, relationship-driven operators who prioritise reliability, value and service quality.
A Confident and Grounded Outlook
Despite the absence of the usual Q4 surge, the data paints a positive picture. Viewings, enquiries and deals have held their ground throughout 2025, with late-year improvements in several centres and strong conversion performance in key locations. This is the hallmark of a stable, maturing market. One that enters 2026 not with volatility, but with quiet confidence.
You can see all of the commercial property listed by UBC Flexible Offices on NovaLoca here.
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