As businesses prioritize the return to the office amid fierce competition for talent, Cushman & Wakefield’s latest analysis, Return to the Core, reveals a growing emphasis on locating within core central business districts (CBDs) across Europe. Proximity to key transport hubs, operational efficiency, and access to amenity-rich environments have become central to occupier strategy and elevated location to a top priority.
Nigel Almond, senior director at Cushman & Wakefield, said, “In the 12 months to June 2025 close to three quarters of leasing in key cities across Europe was in core central areas, up from around 60 percent pre-pandemic. This sharp rise highlights how location has become a decisive factor in occupier strategy, even as prime rents continue to rise.”
A total of 12.4 million square meters (134 million square feet) was
