Workplace wellbeing becomes a core real estate priority as JLL outlines five shifts shaping 2026 

Property services giant, JLL, has identified five major real estate trends that will redefine UK workplaces in 2026, as employers shift from viewing offices as cost centres to treating physical space as a driver of wellbeing, talent retention and business performance. 

The analysis, published in JLL’s 2026 Corporate Real Estate Trends to Watch, highlights growing pressure on organisations to create workplaces that support health, safety and productivity amid rising costs, hybrid attendance challenges and accelerating AI adoption. 

Neil Murray, Global CEO of Real Estate Management Services at JLL, said: “In 2026, the most successful organisations will not only optimise real estate costs but also leverage high-quality data to integrate people, technology and sustainability, turning their physical footprints into a driver of competitive advantage.” 

One trend with direct impact on wellbeing is the shift towards “curated, experience-centric workplaces.” With 52% of organisations now requiring staff in the office three to four days a week, JLL notes that UK employers must ensure offices are genuinely “commute-worthy” and support focus, recovery, collaboration and work-life balance. 

The report also highlights the growing expectation for facilities management models that balance efficiency with wellbeing and safety. JLL found that 84% of FM leaders cite rising costs as their top concern, closely followed by workforce wellbeing and safety — a signal that health-led FM strategies are becoming integral to people and culture planning. 

AI-enabled “intelligent infrastructure” is another key trend, as organisations move beyond pilots to using AI to improve building performance, safety and employee experience. Sue Asprey Price, CEO, Work Dynamics EMEA, said: “Organisations that strengthen data foundations before scaling AI initiatives will achieve the essential shift from experimentation to enterprise infrastructure.” 

Energy performance is also emerging as a wellbeing issue as employers prioritise upgrades that combine efficiency with improved indoor quality. JLL notes that integrating energy, comfort and design improvements will create a “twin premium” — reducing costs while improving the physical environment employees work in. 

Sanjay Rishi, CEO of Work Dynamics Americas, added: “By aligning portfolio decisions with employee wellbeing and business agility, CRE leaders are creating workplace experiences that drive both operational efficiency and talent loyalty.” 

For UK employers, the findings reinforce a wider shift already seen across people strategy: workplaces must actively support wellbeing, not simply house operations. As 2026 approaches, the role of real estate is moving closer to organisational health, employee experience and long-term workforce sustainability.