Expanding law firms are driving demand for office space in the six big regional markets across the UK, according to Savills.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester are experiencing a significant rise in the number of law firms looking for premium real estate to drive talent attraction and retention.

Demand for new, high-end, sustainable office space accounted for 35% of legal sector lettings in 2024, the highest proportion since 2019 and significantly higher than the five-year long-term average of 19%.

In Glasgow, firms such as Dentons and Pinsent Masons are consolidating their operations with significant relocations. Pinsent’s deal at the Aurora Building will see the firm pay £41.50 per sq ft, a record rent for the city.

Weightmans has moved into the top floor of the Ink Building, while TLT and Addleshaw Goddards expansion plans have seen the firms look to significantly grow their footprints in Glasgow.

In Edinburgh, Shepherd and Wedderburn and Morton Fraser MacRoberts have taken space in new offices in Haymarket, while Anderson Strathern, Brodies and Pinsent Masons have moved to other new offices at Capital Square in the Exchange district.

There are also positive trends in the talent pipeline, with the number of universities feeding the legal market increasing by 14% in three years.

According to PwC’s annual Law Firm’s Survey for 2024, approximately 60% of the UK’s top 50 law firms now have a presence outside of London and in the Big Six cities due to a higher educational focus on legal courses, increasing student retention, lower operating costs and lower living costs in these areas.

Emma Morton, global occupier services director at Savills, said: “Firms are increasingly investing in high-quality and sustainable office spaces and paying headline rents to secure premium locations that reflect their brand and meet employee expectations

“However, this rapid expansion across regional cities is putting pressure on the availability of quality office space. With only 1.6 million sq ft under construction across the Big Six markets over the next three years, and 29% of that space already pre-let, the development pipeline is limited.

“This shortfall means that firms facing upcoming lease expiries may need to begin their search for new spaces earlier than ever before, as securing suitable, modern premises becomes increasingly competitive.”