NEWS

View from Richmond Hill - one of the town's many open green spaces

Here at officebroker.com we find that a large proportion of businesses contact us looking for office space in the Central or Greater London regions. Many gravitate towards the central areas, particularly those from the banking or financial sector - but we've found that locations within Greater London are increasingly becoming a popular choice for businesses seeking office space in the south, or as an alternative to Central London.

One such location within Greater London that has attracted a growing number of office space enquiries throughout 2009 is Richmond - a town lying to the south-west of the capital alongside the River Thames. Over the first two quarters of 2009, Richmond has seen a steady month-by-month increase in enquiries through officebroker.com, representing positive growth even amidst today's difficult economical climate.

Furthermore, the town has established itself as one of London's front-runners in environmentally friendly practices. Richmond occupies the highest recycling rate in south-west London, and is within the top four in the capital. Also, a recent contract to set up and operate London Cycle Hire - a flagship green transport scheme endorsed by Mayor of London's Boris Johnson - has been won by a Richmond-based company, Serco. And on top of that, a planning application submitted by Jones Lang LaSalle for a retail, home and office space scheme in the town centre, has been designed to the highest BREEAM environmental standards.

Therefore it's fitting that, as one of the UK's most significant campaigners in the push for a greener environment, the town also claims to be "London's most attractive borough" - a statement that certainly has grounds for justification. Richmond boasts acres of green space in the form of Richmond Park, Kew Gardens, Bushy Park, Crane Park and more, not to mention 260 public rights of way and a 21-mile stretch of the River Thames.

Occupying a prime position on the edge of Richmond Park is Richmond University, a worldwide institution that gives American and international students the opportunity to study in London and benefit from one of two campuses based in the area - both offering proximity to central London and access to the capital's wealth of business resources.

Richmond, the American International University in London, offers a wide range of undergraduate courses for international students, as well as a Masters Degree in the History of Art. Richmond degrees are accredited in the US and validated in the UK - the world's two most highly regarded higher education systems - which are thereby acknowledged worldwide.

President of Richmond Ian D. C. Newbould believes that London offers the perfect location, thanks to its cited position as "global capital of the world" and "model for multi-cultural societies of the 21st century". The university itself benefits from two campus locations, one in the green open spaces of Richmond, and the other in the prestigious centre of Kensington, which occupies a more central site with a wealth of transport links, including the High Street Kensington and Gloucester Road tube stations.

In fact, one of London's most impressive qualities is its public transport networks - notably the tube and rail links. Such effective access contributes to London's position as top of the list for Cushman and Wakefield's UK and European Cities Monitor – a survey that ranks cities both in the UK and across Europe against a number of criteria, such as transport links, telecommunications, availability and quality of staff, cost of office space and quality of life. In both surveys last year, London ranked highest and took the title of best city for business - beating off competition from the likes of Paris, Edinburgh and Berlin.

Even in a location that's outside the city centre like Richmond, there is a reliable transport network that enables individuals - be they business people, commuters or students - to reach the main business hub of London quickly and easily.

Furthermore, with the London 2012 Olympic Games just around the corner, Richmond is set to attract yet more businesses to its serviced offices over the coming months. In 2015, neighbouring town Twickenham will also provide the venue for a selection of Rugby World Cup games, following England's successful bid this year to host the tournament.

If you're looking for office space in Richmond, or any other location in London, the UK or internationally, visit officebroker.com to find and compare offices, or contact one of our team direct for free expert advice.