When returning to work means staying local

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A growing number of workers and businesses are relocating to suburban hubs near their homes to avoid public transport and densely packed offices amid fears of virus transmission.

A recent survey conducted by social research agency McCrindle found that 86 per cent of people have reservations about taking public transport, and a similar proportion (83 per cent) were worried about being in a communal workspace.

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Financial consultant Brendan Dart has ditched the commute and moved from his city office to a private office in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. 

The poll of 1004 people taken on May 8 to 12 also found that nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) have reservations about using lifts.

Financial consultant Brendan Dart, of Dartboard Commodities, was among those who decided to move back to the suburbs to avoid the long commute and potential exposure to the virus.

He has taken up a private office run by @Workspaces in Brighton, in Melbourne's south-east and just five kilometres from his Hampton home.

"I was spending the best part of one hour each way every day commuting to the CBD, so having a local office I can work in is more convenient," he said.

"While there's some nice benefits working in the CBD, having a furnished office just 10 minutes from home works better for me.

"It also helps me avoid taking the public transport at a time when the virus is still raging."

Serviced office provider @Workspaces said interest from city workers and businesses has increased since the lockdown in late March.

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Suburban hubs such as this @Workspace-run office space in Brighton are seeing a surge in demand as workers and businesses relocate out of the city centre. 

“Working local is definitely a huge trend we are seeing across the board," said Jenny Folley, chief executive of @Workspaces.

"People are moving their offices out of the city to work in suburban hubs near their home.

“Prior to COVID-19, we always received more inquiries from start-ups and businesses wanting to take up office space in the city as it was seen as the commercial hub and place to be. But now people want to be near their homes and local community."

Ms Folley said there has been a strong demand for private work space that is furnished and ready to be occupied in locations such as Brighton and Toorak in Melbourne, Double Bay in Sydney and the Gold Coast.

"We opened our Brighton location in mid-March, before the lockdown, and now just about all our offices are taken, even if it's on a temporary basis," she said.

"Many people are finding that they cannot work from home and need a private office to work outside of their house.

"We also have had plenty of inquiry from people looking to work closer from home, once this pandemic is over."

While private offices were in high demand, the once popular co-working spaces have fallen out of favour, said Ms Folley.

"Very few people are looking for co-working spaces these days. Prior to COVID-19, it was highly sought after, but inquiries have dropped off completely when the virus arrived," she said.