• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Thursday April 30 2026

Bristol office market top performer among UK’s Big Six cities

Bristol’s office market was the standout performer among the UK’s Big Six cities in 2025, recording 604,119 sq ft of take-up, according to research from JLL.

The total was above its five-year average of 525,000 sq ft and a 37 per cent increase on 2024.

The city climbed from fifth to fourth in the Big Six league table, overtaking Edinburgh.

The market was anchored by Hargreaves Lansdown’s 90,000 sq ft letting at the Welcome Building, one of the largest single deals across all Big Six cities in 2025.

Bristol accounted for two of the top 20 deals, totalling 131,900 sq ft. Burges Salmon’s commitment at One Glass Wharf was another significant retention deal.

Prime rents in Bristol stood at £50 per sq ft at Q4 2025, up from £48, with JLL forecasting £61.50 per sq ft by 2030 – the highest of any Big Six city.

The city’s flex market has also seen the UK’s strongest growth, with stock up 120 per cent since 2020 and accounting for 5.5 per cent of the Bristol total.

Bristol’s development pipeline includes three new-build schemes totalling 376,000 sq ft yet to start, though none are currently on site.

Investment volumes stood at £103 million across six deals. The creative industries sector is forecast to generate 7,990 new jobs, while GVA growth of approximately 1.4 per cent per annum to 2030 places Bristol among the stronger regional economies.

Hannah Waterhouse, Bristol director for office agency at JLL, said: “Bristol had an exceptional 2025 and the momentum is carrying into 2026.

“The Hargreaves Lansdown deal was transformative for the market’s profile, and we’re seeing broader demand from professional services, the defence sector and the creative sector.

“We are also seeing encouraging signs with many businesses who had previously downsized during and immediately following Covid, now taking expansion space as they settle into an improved ‘new normal’.

“The challenge for Bristol is bringing forward new supply – with no new builds currently on site and flex stock already absorbing a significant share of demand, the city needs to see developers commit to speculative schemes.

“The rental growth trajectory makes the case, but viability remains tight.”