WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE INDUSTRY IN 2021 AND BEYOND ?
WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE INDUSTRY IN 2021 AND BEYOND ?
JL : We anticipate that in the near-term , influences such as global tensions between the US and China , the Government ’ s abilities to effectively tackle the pandemic , currency changes , cost of capital and the shift to the ‘ new normal ’ will continue to impact performance in the corporate real estate sector in Africa .
However , in the long term we anticipate that ‘ big picture trends ’ that existed pre-COVID , will continue to influence the market . These include market resilience , innovation and health and wellness trends . Gardens and outdoor spaces featured at the top of home buyers wish-list in their homes of choice of at least 66 % of the respondents in our Global Buyer Survey . Closer to home , we have observed buyer preference towards gated communities or developments that avail open spaces .
RD : The repurposing of office space to facilitate collaboration will be a trend for 2021 because it has been proven that , for many , home working supports individual focussed work but less so for social activities . CRE heads will need to ‘ sell ’ the office to those who have had a positive home working experience to willingly get them back and maximise attendance . Any office redesign must carefully consider the experiences people have had whilst working at home .
Offices will likely be carved into creative spaces for collaboration , innovation , and will also be a place to simply wind down and socialise . It will be important to ensure that the workforce is made aware of these investments now so they feel confident that they will be kept safe and supported when they return to the office .
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