Guildford’s office market has entered a new chapter, with town centre regeneration schemes transforming the town’s offer, not only as a place to live, but increasingly as a place to work.
Against a backdrop of limited prime office supply and rising occupier demand, the investment pouring into the heart of Guildford is enhancing the town’s appeal and shaping the next phase of market activity.
Guildford: A market on the move
The appetite for quality office space in Guildford remains strong.
So far in 2025, several key deals have underlined the strength of demand, particularly for well-located, modern, and sustainable office environments.
Bottle Works, one of the few central Grade A refurbishments on the market, recently set a new rental high for the town at £45.00 psf, with quoting rents now pushing £50.00 psf for the remaining space.
The scheme is already over 60% pre-let ahead of completion, highlighting the ongoing ‘flight to quality’ by occupiers and a shortage of alternatives.
Across Guildford and neighbouring Woking, office availability has fallen to 45% below the five-year average, with less than 250,000 sq ft available in total. In central Guildford, the squeeze is even tighter.
There is very little new-build Grade A office space in Guildford’s pipeline, and much of the existing stock is dated and under pressure to modernise or convert.
Prime office vacancy is now below 5%, with warnings that choice is becoming critically limited for businesses seeking well-located workspace.
Regeneration reinvigorating the centre
While office supply struggles to keep pace, a wave of regeneration is helping to reshape the context in which the office market operates.
The most visible sign of this is the transformation of the former Debenhams site, now being redeveloped as St Mary’s Wharf.
This £125 million scheme will bring 183 riverside homes, new retail, and cafés overlooking the River Wey, alongside a new public walkway along the waterfront.
After years of underuse, the site is being reimagined as a vibrant, mixed-use anchor that’s already increasing footfall and extending Guildford’s town centre eastwards toward the river.
Meanwhile, Solum’s Guildford Station Quarter project is also making progress.
This £150 million regeneration will deliver over 430 homes, 20,000 sq ft of office space and a transformed arrival experience for the town, complete with a new transport interchange, shops and public plaza.
For occupiers, it promises to connect the dots between infrastructure, amenity and workspace – a potent mix for businesses seeking locations with strong transport links and lifestyle appeal.
Add to this the wider town centre plans – including the long-anticipated North Street redevelopment and major retrofit schemes like 31 Chertsey Street – and it’s clear that the character of Guildford is evolving fast.
What was once a traditional market town is becoming a more modern, amenity-rich environment where people want to live, work, and spend their time.
