Navigating the next wave: How London’s fitout market is evolving to meet demand

The London fitout market is entering a pivotal phase. A convergence of major landmark projects and a surge in small to mid-sized schemes is driving unprecedented activity across the capital. This momentum, while promising, brings with it a familiar challenge: capacity.

As demand accelerates, the pressure on suppliers, subcontractors, and delivery teams is intensifying. The ability to maintain production levels without compromising quality or timelines will be a defining factor in the success of upcoming schemes.

At Mace, we are proactively managing this challenge. Our procurement specialists work in close partnership with manufacturers and the wider supply chain to monitor market dynamics in real time. By identifying capacity constraints and future pinch-points early, we are able to safeguard delivery certainty for our clients—ensuring their real estate strategies remain resilient and future-ready.

Early engagement as a strategic advantage

In today’s market, early engagement is essential. A two-stage approach allows collaboration with clients and supply chain partners from the outset, unlocking greater cost certainty and programme efficiency. Our integrated teams bring deep technical knowledge across every stage of the built - from digital solutions to design and engineering - ensuring alignment across design, delivery, and operational performance from day one.

By maintaining constant communication with supply chain partners, it is also possible to gain deep insight into their capacity and constraints. This enables informed decision-making, mitigating risk and ensuring smoother delivery.

This early engagement model has delivered tangible results for us at Mace. On average, our clients are saving six weeks on programme—equating to approximately £1 million in rental value savings across a typical 100,000 sq ft scheme. These efficiencies reflect our commitment to delivering smarter, faster, with more predictably.

Sustainability & wellbeing: The new standard

Today’s workplaces must go beyond just function as offices—they must inspire, support wellbeing, and reflect sustainability. Green spaces, enhanced air quality, and wellness amenities are now essential.

Our clients require spaces that meet the highest environmental and wellbeing standards—WELL Platinum, BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5*—while aligning with broader ESG goals.

At present, we are delivering ten fitout and retrofit projects targeting BREEAM Excellent or Outstanding, five aiming for WELL Gold or Platinum, and six pursuing NABERS 4.5* or 5* ratings. These benchmarks are not just aspirations—they are embedded in our delivery strategy.

Location as a strategic lever

Hybrid working has redefined the role of the office. Location and accessibility are now critical factors in attracting talent and fostering collaboration. Businesses are increasingly prioritising central, well-connected spaces that support both productivity and employee experience.

We work closely with clients to understand workforce needs and provide early advice on buildability as part of their due diligence when assessing potential locations. Our integrated approach ensures that property decisions are informed by robust data and designed for long-term value.

Flexibility as a foundation for growth

The demand for flexible workspace is reshaping the commercial real estate landscape. As businesses adapt to fluctuating occupancy levels, the ability to scale space up or down has become a key differentiator.

Mace is delivering solutions that enable clients to right-size their portfolios without compromising on quality or performance. From short-term growth options to integrated flex space within traditional offices, we are helping occupiers remain agile in a rapidly evolving market.

Building resilience through partnership

In a volatile economic environment, resilience is paramount. The financial health of contractors and supply chains is under scrutiny, with recent market pressures exposing vulnerabilities across the sector. These pressures mean its more important now than ever to invest in long-term partnerships, supply chain development, and robust market intelligence, in order to build a delivery model that is both resilient and agile.

This has been our priority at Mace. Our strong focus on collaboration and shared values ensures that we—and our partners—are well-positioned to thrive in the face of uncertainty.