Cities Matter

At last week’s BCO General Assembly at 40 Leadenhall, one question stuck with me: instead of replicating every possible amenity inside a building, what if developers looked outward?

On-site gyms, cafés, cinemas and wellness studios may offer convenience, but they risk turning office buildings into self-contained islands. The real value of returning to the office lies in reconnecting with city life, the energy of the streets and local culture, random encounters and people watching, that no in-house amenity can replicate.

Retail brands have long understood this. American Express does not build its own restaurants or own its own airlines. It partners with existing ones, offering cardholders priority access, discounts and curated experiences. The result is brand value rooted in real-world culture and community.

What if developers approached cities the same way?

Rather than build tenant-only cinemas or cafés, they could collaborate with the businesses that surround them. Sponsor local venues. Offer perks tied to neighbourhood restaurants or wellness spaces. Co-invest in shared assets. It strengthens tenant experience and reinforces the urban fabric at the same time. Showing images of Soho in letting brochures is one thing, but giving your tenants an exclusive access to the Soho experience is a game changer.

Derwent London has already done that with the DL member lounges, to great success. These lounges are urban amenities that connect tenants throughout London, and these lounges capitalise on their urban context - Fitzrovia with DL/78 and Shoreditch with DL/28. Because Derwent London knows that Fitzrovia and Shoreditch are essential components in its brand.

And this is where the BCO can play a leading role. As a fantastic organisation that brings under one umbrella so many developers, letting agents, project managers, engineers and architects, the BCO allows developers to coalesce and face the challenges faced by the sector rather than operate in silos. But this is half the story, and the BCO can galvanise the industry to collaborate with similar organisations in residential and retail sectors to strategise and revitalise cities, which will ensure the long-term prosperity of property portfolios.