EMEA region sees continued growth in flexible office space

Despite economic headwinds and tighter capital markets, the flexible office space market across the EMEA region continues to thrive, according to Colliers' "Flexpansion: The Architecture of Agility 2025" report.

Flexible office space

While some areas are maturing, others are experiencing rapid growth. Flexible space inventory increased by 4.4%, or over 348,000 m², in 2024, reaching 8.3 million m² across 46 markets. The number of open flexible units rose to 4,358 by the end of 2024, an increase of 203 units from the previous year.
London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Copenhagen, and Stockholm lead in total flexible space. However, smaller cities like Riga, Athens, Tallinn, Ljubljana, and Leeds saw the most significant growth spurts.
Significantly, the number of flexible space closures decreased by 15% compared to 2023 and is 6% below the five-year average. Meanwhile, leasing by flexible operators accounted for 3.6% of total office take-up – down slightly from 2023 but still well above pandemic lows – with Leeds, Copenhagen, and Barcelona emerging as hotspots.
Eighty-two new flexible space providers entered the EMEA market in 2024, with London being the top destination. Dubai, Manchester, Munich, Sofia, Stockholm, and Warsaw followed closely, each sharing second place.
Operators are increasingly prioritizing central, high-quality locations, including unique spaces within historic buildings. In 2024, city centre flexible space openings rose from 34% to 47% year-on-year.
The rise of flexible space is influencing the traditional office market, pushing landlords to offer more service-oriented amenities and integrate flexible options into new developments. Since 2020, landlords have developed 311 new sites totalling 607,390 m² across EMEA—including 72 openings in 2024 alone.
With hybrid work gaining traction and limited new office construction, demand for premium flexible office space is predicted to rise in the coming years.
Andrew Hallissey, CEO – Occupiers Services | Global & EMEA at Colliers, commented: “What we’re witnessing is the evolution of flex from a coworking-led trend into a mature, strategic pillar of corporate real estate. Occupiers are demanding more control, privacy, and service – and flex providers are answering that call with highly tailored, amenity-rich solutions that rival traditional offices in quality and brand experience.”
James Walton, director, head of Global Flex Advisory, EMEA Occupier Services at Colliers, added: “This is no longer just about desks and coffee machines. Flex has become a lever for workplace transformation. Landlords and corporates alike are embedding flexible space into their core strategies, and that’s reshaping how offices are designed, delivered, and activated across Europe and beyond.”