Unnecessary fit-outs create money pit
Research reveals a rise in unnecessary office fit-outs and the waste caused by replacing good-as-new fixtures
Data from one of the UK’s commercial construction and property consultants has calculated the waste created by unnecessary fit-outs in central London to be at approximately £400 million per year. New materials to refurbish offices that have only recently been renovated are costing companies millions and creating a considerable amount of waste in the process.
When tenants move into new offices it is common for them to want to impose their own designs and styles on their work space, however, nearly 50 per cent of Grade A office fit-outs in the capital involve the removal of newly fitted fixtures and fittings. Many companies move straight into a new office and do not fully consider what existing features could be worked into their new office design.
Steven Barker, a Senior Partner and consultant with Robinsons Low Francis, said, “In order to ensure greater efficiencies we must challenge the current traditional mindset of our clients and consultants and provide them with the advice and resources to consider the whole life time of the building.”
One proposed solution to the problems with excessive renovations is for the architects involved to enable clients to see a clearer visualisation of their final office space with better proposals at the outset. It is hoped that closing this gap will help to reduce unnecessary wastage of materials, money and time whilst still allowing tenant the use of a Grade A office space.
