Bristol is expected to play a leading role in the recovery of the UK’s major regional office markets, as occupier demand strengthens and the supply of high-quality space becomes increasingly constrained.
New research from JLL suggests take-up across the UK’s 'big six ' regional office markets — Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester — is set to reach 4.5 million sq ft in 2026, up 15% on the previous year.
The forecast points to renewed confidence among occupiers after take-up across the six cities reached 3.9 million sq ft in 2025, slightly below the five-year average of 4 million sq ft.
For Bristol, the figures underline the city’s continued importance as one of the UK’s strongest regional office locations. JLL said improving occupier sentiment, employment growth and a shortage of prime space are all expected to support further activity across the major regional cities, including Bristol, over the coming years.
The report identifies 3.75 million sq ft of demand from specific occupiers already active in the market. Across the big six cities, there are currently 127 active requirements for office space above 10,000 sq ft, including five enquiries for more than 100,000 sq ft.
JLL said around a third of businesses expect to expand their office portfolio over the next three years, up from 24% in 2024. Office employment growth is also forecast to outpace the UK average across all six cities up to 2030.
However, the research highlights a growing challenge for cities such as Bristol: demand for quality office space is rising at the same time as supply is becoming more limited.
New-build vacancy rates across the big six cities are now below 2%, while the overall vacancy rate stands at around 7.5%. JLL said this reflects a similar supply-demand dynamic to that seen in the London office market.
Only five new-build office schemes, totalling 619,000 sq ft, are currently under construction across the six cities, with no pre-lets secured off-plan. Including refurbishments, the speculative pipeline stands at just over 1 million sq ft across 16 schemes, which JLL said is well below the level needed to meet projected demand.
The tightening supply is already feeding through into rents. Prime office rents increased in every big six city during 2025, with headline rents now ranging from £41.50 per sq ft in Glasgow to £52 per sq ft in Bristol and Birmingham.
That places Bristol at the top end of the regional office market, alongside Birmingham, and reflects the strength of demand for high-quality space in the city.
JLL is forecasting that prime rents across all six cities will reach £60 per sq ft by 2030, equivalent to average annual rental growth of 4.58%. The firm also said space currently under offer in several cities is expected to set new rental benchmarks soon, with rents of between £48 and £55 per sq ft anticipated.
Ben Reed, head of UK tenant representation and regional office agency at JLL:
The pipeline for 2026 looks materially stronger than 12 months ago, but the challenge is clear – there simply isn’t enough quality space to meet the demand we’re seeing.
Occupiers are increasingly focused on securing quality space ahead of any further tightening. The cities that can bring forward new supply – whether through speculative development or intelligent refurbishment – will be the ones that capture the growth.
For Bristol, the findings point to both an opportunity and a challenge. The city remains one of the most expensive and competitive regional office markets in the UK, but future growth may depend on the ability of developers, investors and landlords to bring forward high-quality new or refurbished workspace.
As occupiers continue to prioritise well-located, energy-efficient and amenity-rich offices, Bristol’s ability to provide the right stock could determine how much of the next wave of regional office demand the city captures.
