Investment firms remain one of central London’s most influential occupier groups, but recent leasing activity points to a market defined by selectivity, cost awareness and a continued flight to quality.
Devono’s Investment Occupier Snapshot reviews office leasing activity across central London, tracking demand from investment and asset management firms, hedge funds and pension funds. The report examines where firms are taking space, how requirements are evolving and what recent deals reveal about location strategy, lease commitments and rental expectations.
The analysis shows that while total leasing volumes remained steady in 2025, activity was heavily influenced by major transactions, with a more cautious picture emerging beneath the headline numbers. The West End continues to dominate deal activity, led by Mayfair and St James’s, although rising rents and tightening high-quality supply are increasing the appeal of alternative locations, particularly the City.
The report also considers the wider challenges shaping decision-making across the sector, including AI integration, regulation, talent attraction, working patterns and ongoing market uncertainty. For investment-sector occupiers, the office remains a critical tool for client confidence, collaboration and talent, but securing the right space increasingly requires earlier planning and a sharper understanding of cost, quality and location trade-offs.
