Supply Issues As Weybridge’s Office Market Thrives

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Leafy Weybridge in Surrey continues to punch well above its weight in the office space market but a growing mismatch between supply and demand could prove crucial, says a regional commercial property specialist.

Charlie Nicholson, regional managing partner for property consultancy Vail Williams, says the town’s unique blend of high-quality, competitively priced office accommodation and exceptional connectivity continues to underpin office market demand.

The Weybridge office market has performed well amid evolving occupier requirements and ongoing workplace recalibration, helped by the combination of its lifestyle offer, top schools and good transport links to London, Heathrow and Gatwick.

Global occupiers such as Samsung and Sony have long-established operations in and around the town, cementing Weybridge’s role as a genuine hub-and-spoke location for international businesses.

Charlie said:

“However, we are seeing office outcomes in Weybridge become increasingly polarised. Buildings that have benefitted from investment continue to perform strongly; meanwhile older or less flexible stock has experienced slower rates of absorption. That’s why building specification and presentation matter more than ever.”

“There is also a clear shortage of modern, fitted Cat A+ and ‘oven-ready’ accommodation, particularly at the smaller end of the market. Suites within the 1,500 to 10,000 sq ft range are experiencing sustained levels of demand, but availability remains limited.”

Charlie, who has more than 20 years’ regional commercial property experience, added:

“Where landlords have invested in high-quality fitted office space in Weybridge, results have been encouraging. The multi-let buildings at The Heights demonstrate that when space is delivered in the right format conventional offices can and do let well here."

“This creates a clear opportunity for landlords and investors. Splitting larger floorplates and committing capital to Cat A+ refurbishments is making the difference between space sitting idle and space letting quickly.”

In 2025, there were 12 significant office lettings in Weybridge, totalling approximately 33,217 sq ft. This represented a significant increase in total square footage leased compared with 2024, reflecting ongoing occupier right-sizing trends but also a renewed transactional momentum.

Office demand remains centred on Weybridge’s established business park locations which benefit from strong access to the M25 and have a proven ability to attract major corporates. These locations have continued to anchor significant occupiers over the last 12 months, notably at The Heights Brooklands and Bourne Business Park.

Headline rents at The Heights are now moving into the early £40s per sq ft, with prime refurbished space typically achieving £38 to £40 per sq ft. Meanwhile the average net effective rents across wider Weybridge in 2025 sat closer to £30 per sq ft. This reinforces the town’s value proposition when compared with many outer London locations.

Charlie said:

“Looking ahead, at one end of the market, demand is emerging for bespoke, pre-let solutions from larger corporates with specific operational requirements."

“At the other end of the market, smaller and mid-sized occupiers continue to drive transactional activity, provided space is delivered in a format that supports immediate occupation and modern working practices."

“Also, flexible workspace providers have also responded to this demand by delivering amenity-rich environments that appeal to experience-led occupiers, helping to provide an incubator offering to start-ups alongside more established corporate occupiers in the area."

“From an office market investment perspective, Weybridge continues to offer long-term development and investment potential. The Local Plan identifies opportunities for intensification of office delivery across established commercial areas, including parts of The Heights campus."

“Not only this, as some older office buildings transition to residential use, those that remain are capable of profitable turnaround through refurbishment, reconfiguration or redevelopment, and are expected to attract sustained occupier and investor interest."

“For global occupiers, Weybridge provides a cost-effective gateway to UK and European markets, meanwhile, for landlords and investors, office demand will continue to flow, if capital is deployed intelligently and space is aligned with modern occupier expectations."

“Of course, Weybridge is not immune to wider economic pressures as we look ahead, but the office market here is underpinned by strong fundamentals – international appeal, excellent connectivity, a compelling lifestyle offer and consistent demand for high-quality space. Few locations within the Surrey office market combine these advantages so close to London.”

Vail Williams, based in Woking, has had a presence in Surrey since the late 1980s and over the years, we have played a pivotal role in some of the region’s major commercial and residential developments.

The firm’s full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.

Photo: Hitting the Heights: Weybridge in Surrey continues to punch well above its weight in the office space market but a growing mismatch between supply and demand could prove crucial. Pictured is The Heights where rents are now moving into the early £40s per sq ft.

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Nov 17, 2023
2 min read

Christmas is coming early for the UK’s corporate retail sector, with nearly half (49 per cent) opting to display festive-themed goods earlier this year to help their customers spread out the cost of Christmas. In fact, a quarter (25 per cent) now put up Christmas displays as early as September, with the majority (57 per cent) going up by October. A small number of retailers (1 per cent) even started putting up Christmas displays in June.

This is according to data from the Barclays Business Barometer, which measures the UK corporate business environment in the hospitality and leisure, retail and manufacturing industries.

Retailers are showing strong resilience in the face of a challenging economic environment, with optimism that the coming ‘critical Christmas’ period will deliver a rebound in sales compared to last year’s disappointing season. In addition to selling Christmas goods earlier, the industry expects sales will accelerate in Q4, with retailers anticipating average revenue growth of 20 per cent quarter on quarter compared to 2022.

The sector’s optimism is fuelled by expectations that consumers will return to the high street, with three in five retailers (60 per cent) expecting greater footfall in stores this year, compared to online shopping.

Santa’s Helpers

More than four in five (82 per cent) retailers anticipate relying on a temp workforce during this festive season, with those hiring expecting to expand the size of their current workforce by more than a quarter (28 per cent) in order to meet anticipated demand.

The sector’s resilience is further underscored by the fact that 23 per cent of retailers plan to hire more compared to previous Christmases. This is set to impact all demographics of workers, with 43 per cent of large retailers expecting to hire over-50s in order to meet demand.

At the same time, employee welfare remains a top priority. More than half of large retailers (51 per cent) stated that they would not be opening for sales on Boxing Day, in order to give their employees an extra day off.

Investing In Infrastructure

With more consumers opting to do their Christmas shops in person rather than online, over two-thirds (67 per cent) of retailers have invested in better customer experiences at their stores. In addition, 64 per cent have invested in data analytics and other similar technologies in order to improve customer loyalty.

Furthermore, the majority (56 per cent) have also invested in their own delivery infrastructure this year, in order to minimise any supply chain disruptions for consumers.

Karen Johnson, Head of Retail and Wholesale, Barclays Corporate Banking, said: “After a not-so-festive 2022 season, and amidst widespread concern over the health of the economy, retailers have moved decisively to build resilience. Focusing on Christmas goods earlier, investing in infrastructure and expanding temporary hiring are all positive indicators that the sector is well-placed for what is a critical Christmas."

“Though consumer demand has been weak in recent months as warm weather has dampened the Christmas spirit, there are early signs that customers remain committed to Christmas and this year will see strong sales for retailers, benefiting the industry and giving the UK economy a potential boost as the year draws to a close.”

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Supply Issues As Weybridge’s Office Market Thrives

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