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Space planning

Space planning and office layout from Morgan Lovell

Space planning for your office can be a difficult task. It’s not only about who sits where, but there are legal requirements, accommodation standards, IT, staff welfare and telecoms to consider.

For the last 33 years, we’ve been space planning for businesses both big and small in every corner of the UK. So whether you need to space plan an office that’s 3,000 sq ft or 100,000 square feet, Morgan Lovell approaches each project in the same way.

Space planning considerations

There’s a lot to consider when creating an office layout. Get it right and you have a new office that functions well and is fit for the future. Here are just a few things to think about when creating a space plan:

Accommodation (space planning) standards – these include average square feet per person, corridor widths, appropriate sizes for tea points, copy areas, meeting rooms, receptions, etc. Morgan Lovell has developed its own accommodation standards based on countless successful office design projects. We apply these standards to every project we work on, passing the benefit of our knowledge to you.

Legal requirements – there is lots of legislation to consider when space planning your office, including: The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, Building Regulations - Part B Fire Safety Volume 2; Part M Access to and use of Buildings; Part E (Resistance to sound), The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and the Disability Discrimination Act (now replaced by the Equality Act of 2010) plus others. With Morgan Lovell, you don’t have to worry about any of them as we are experts in making sure your space plan is legally up-to-scratch.

Business requirements – of course your space plan should be guided by your business needs. For example, a legal firm will want more private space for confidential conversations, whereas a marketing agency will want to foster more interaction and creativity. Accommodation standards will vary by business and it’s likely that Morgan Lovell has planned an office in your industry.

IT and Telecoms – For your space plan to work, it must take into consideration access to IT, telecoms and small power. For example, does your office have raised flooring to make running cables to individual workstations easy? If so, you’ll have a lot more flexibility with your office layout. If not, you must space plan your workstations with access to a wall or ceiling with power and data. A skilled space planner can really help with those awkward spaces.

Flexibility and Growth – a well considered space plan will incorporate future growth to accommodate the changing needs of your business. For example, creating flexible spaces that can be used for either breakout space or workstations. This will save you time and money down the road when your business needs change.

Space planning and office layout services from Morgan Lovell

We offer a full turn-key office space planning service, including:

  • Feasibility Studies to help you decide how much office space you really need, for now and in the future. And don’t forget things like storage space, departmental adjacencies and new ways of working.
  • Building appraisals to help you decide which space is more cost-effective. We’ll also do a full survey of your shortlisted buildings to help you decide which one is right for you.
  • Concept drawings, 3D walkthroughs and test fit drawings so you can know exactly what your new office will look like before you start on site.
  • Office furniture. Good space planning is a harmonious design between the physical space and your furniture.
  • Building services to make sure your air-conditioning, heating, ventilation, lighting and telecoms requirements all work in conjunction with your space plan.

Contact us

Would you like an informal chat about your space planning project? Contact us using the form below or call us on 0800 028 0945. No hard sell, we promise.

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Helpful links

  1. (UK) The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Visit website
  2. (UK) The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Visit website
  3. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Visit website
  4. BS 1192:2007 Collaborative production of architectural, engineering and construction information. Code of practice.
  5. (UK) The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Visit website
  6. (UK) Building Regulations - Part B Fire Safety Volume 2; Part M Access to and use of Buildings; Part E (Resistance to sound). Visit website
  7. (UK) BS EN 12464-1:2002 Light and lighting. Lighting of work places. Indoor work places, British Standards Institution.