Knight Frank has launched a flex leasing team in the UK in response to the changing nature of commercial real estate.
The team is being led by head of flex leasing Steven Lydon, an associate who has moved over from Knight Frank's flexible office solutions team, where he acted for tenants acquiring flexible office space. Lydon is working closely with surveyor Harry McGregor as well as Will Foster, a partner in the West End office team, and Mike Voller, partner in the London office agency team.
Phil Hobley, head of London offices, announced the team this morning at the company's London office breakfast as one of a number of innovations , including in life sciences.
Knight Frank has previously partnered with flexible offices adviser Work.Life on Yours, a partnership advising landlords on flexible offices solutions.
It is understood that the new Knight Frank flexible platform is finalising its strategy with more announcements later in the year but it will focus on providing solutions for landlord clients that they can deliver and take to market in the fitted, flexible, serviced and managed space. The team is focused on identifying and unlocking opportunities for landlords to deliver managed office space.
In a blog post Lydon said the platform would "look to bridge the gap between evolving tenant demand and landlord development". He writes that flex leasing is a strategic initiative aimed at transforming conventional office spaces into fully managed turnkey solutions for today’s modern occupier.
He says the flex leasing team will provide support at "every stage of the development of a landlord’s own flexible office product".
Lydon adds: "From evaluating the feasibility of delivering a flexible solution to enhancing property exposure through agile sales strategies, our dedicated team works in partnership with landlords to optimise their assets and maximise returns."
In particular the team is being developed to better service the sub-5,000 square foot, fully fitted office market, which KF says has quickly become the highest growth part of the London leasing market.