The length of commute to work is still a key factor for staff in their ideal workspace with 89% of respondents considering this important. The proximity to public transport links and road networks are a key determinant in the choice of office space for tenants. The car is the most frequently used method of transport across the UK with 47% of respondents driving to work. However, this varies across the UK, cities which have significant public transport infrastructure such as London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, where below 30% commute to work by car. Cambridgeshire and Leeds have the highest proportion of respondents who drive to work at 64%.

From the respondents who work in the town centre, 53% commute to work using public transport and a further 15% cycle to work. This would imply that office buildings in the city and town centre need to have access to strong public transport connections and appropriate provision of cycle storage and shower facilities.

Analysing commuting patterns across the UK, 46% of the respondents' commute is over 30 minutes. London has the highest proportion of respondents whose commute is over 30 minutes at 74%. The length of commute to work was the second most important factor for an office worker's ideal workplace. Occupiers will need to consider the impact any relocation has on their staff commuting patterns, indeed, 63% of respondents would not be prepared to add 15 minutes onto their daily commute for their ideal workplace.

The financial cost of the commute is a key factor in an ideal workplace for an office worker with 84% considering this important. However, only 51% of respondents were satisfied with the cost of the commute. Satisfaction levels varied from city to city; Edinburgh had the highest satisfaction rate at 73% while Birmingham had the lowest at 39%. This could be in part due to Edinburgh having the highest proportion of respondents who walk to work at 50%.

Occupiers could potentially widen the talent pool they recruit from if they listened and understood their staff's preferred requirements for their ideal office space. On average, 23% and 10% of respondents across the UK would commute up to an extra 30 minutes and an hour, respectively, for their 'ideal' office space. Despite the ideal being subjective, it is fascinating to see that many office workers would commute longer to work in a better office environment and one that meets their needs.

Overall, the office needs to be accessible from a variety of different transport means and in a cost-effective location for employees. Global heads of real estate and human resources staff are more frequently collaborating when deciding on their company's next real estate move, which is a trend that will continue.

_{Read the articles within Savills What Works Want Survey below.}