Office leasing activity in Glasgow in the first half of 2026 hit the highest level since 2018, according to CBRE’s latest data.
In H1 2026, year-to-date take-up reached 309,600 sq ft – up 18% on the same period last year. Q2 activity rose 58% year-on-year to 169,100 sq ft, with the uplift underpinned by the Home Office’s letting of 80,600 sq ft of refurbished space at 200 Broomielaw (pictured).
Supply in the city remains tight with availability falling 3% in Q2 to 2m sq ft, 19% below the five-year average. No new office space has completed in Glasgow so far this year and only one scheme – 91,100 sq ft at 45 Waterloo Street – is currently under construction.
In Edinburgh, office take-up in H1 2026 hit 237,000 sq ft, up 2% on the H1 2025 figure.
Sarah Hagen, director and head of office agency, Glasgow at CBRE said: “Glasgow’s office market is showing real momentum. The Home Office’s acquisition of 200 Broomielaw was a significant contributor, but activity has been broad-based, with demand also coming from the business services and professional sectors.
“The challenge remains supply. Despite the high-level supply picture when you delve a little deeper, less than 2% of Glasgow’s office stock is currently available as best in class or Grade A space, and Lucent is the only prime building offering immediate occupation. With no refurbishment completions expected this year, occupiers are facing an increasingly limited pool of options until 45 Waterloo Street delivers 100,000 sq. ft of best-in-class accommodation in early 2027.”
Angela Lowe, senior director and head of office leasing for Scotland at CBRE, added: “Glasgow and Edinburgh have both outperformed the wider UK regional market so far this year, and the pipeline of activity coming through is an encouraging sign for the months ahead. A strong pipeline of occupier interest is currently under discussion that should convert into further take-up before year end, while more refurbished space is starting to come through in both cities, helping to ease the supply constraints that have held the market back and giving occupiers the quality of stock they’re increasingly looking for.”
