What was The Buzz in August?
What was The Buzz in August?
From AI-driven office demand to political change, London’s Open House Festival and recognition across the property industry, August highlighted the people, ideas and investment shaping the built environment.
Open House Festival celebrates 35 years
Open House Festival returns this September for its 35th edition, with bookings opening this month for a programme spanning buildings, neighbourhoods and spaces across London. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, the festival continues to celebrate the architecture and places that make the capital unique.
AI occupiers drive Central London office demand
CBRE’s H1 2026 figures showed AI-related leasing reaching 0.7m sq ft in Central London, more than double the total recorded during the whole of 2025. With major technology occupiers continuing to expand, the figures highlight London’s position as a leading hub for AI and innovation.
Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister
Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister has prompted the property sector to consider what his housing record could mean for landlords and developers. His focus on affordable housing, housebuilding and regulation during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester could offer clues to the direction of future housing policy.
Property Week celebrates the industry’s people
Property Week’s Commercial Property Awards 2026 celebrated the people and organisations making a difference across the built environment, with a focus on inclusion, neurodiversity and social mobility. Four industry veterans were also inducted into the Hall of Fame, recognising their contribution to the property sector.
The bottom line
August’s biggest stories highlighted a sector continuing to evolve, from AI reshaping office demand and political change influencing housing, to celebrating London’s architecture and the people driving progress across the industry.
And that, in a nutshell, was The Buzz in August.
