The versatile workplace market throughout Europe, the Center East and Africa is shifting into a brand new section, in response to new knowledge from Colliers. The area’s flex workspace footprint grew by greater than 348,000 sq. metres in 2024, regardless of troublesome financial circumstances and diminished capital availability. The agency’s Flexpansion: The Structure of Agility report charts a 4.4 % year-on-year improve in versatile house throughout 46 EMEA markets. The entire now stands at 8.3 million sq. metres.
Whereas main cities equivalent to London, Paris and Berlin proceed to steer, the report additionally highlights fast progress in rising markets together with Riga, Athens, Tallinn and Ljubljana. This, it suggests, indicators a shift from flex as a short-term resolution to a longer-term a part of company actual property methods.
Colliers describes the pattern as a transfer away from coworking and in the direction of managed, higher-quality environments. These are designed to present occupiers better management, privateness and entry to providers. Demand is especially excessive for well-connected, centrally positioned buildings—typically these with character or heritage worth.
“That is not nearly desks and occasional machines,” mentioned James Walton, head of worldwide flex advisory at Colliers. “Landlords and corporates alike are embedding versatile house into their core methods.”
The 12 months additionally noticed the best variety of new flex centre openings since 2019. A complete of 283 new websites launched in 2024, whereas closures dropped by 15 %. Greater than 80 new suppliers entered the market through the 12 months, suggesting rising confidence within the mannequin. Some cities confirmed notable momentum. Leeds, Copenhagen and Barcelona (pictured) had been recognized as hotspots for leasing exercise, whilst total leasing by flex suppliers dipped barely to three.6 % of all workplace take-up.
Trying forward, the report anticipates continued progress in demand as conventional improvement slows and companies search extra adaptable workspace choices. Nevertheless, the market can be dealing with rising expectations on service, sustainability and model. “The important thing alternative lies in serving to purchasers adapt quicker than their rivals,” mentioned Andrew Hallissey, CEO of occupier providers at Colliers. “Which means pondering not solely by way of house, but additionally by way of pace, scalability and expertise.”
