At an event on Wednesday night, London’s Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan expressed serious concerns about the post-pandemic decline in office-working across the capital, warning that the city “cannot afford” to become one where “the center has been hollowed out.” The event, hosted by consultancy firm Project Leaders, provided the mayor an opportunity to address the capital’s business community and urge employers to encourage their staff to return to their office spaces.
While the mayor acknowledged the rise of flexible working since the pandemic, which has significantly impacted central London’s economy, he stressed that businesses also had a responsibility to create a more appealing office environment to bring workers back. “The center of London cannot afford to become hollowed out,” he remarked, emphasizing that the shift in work habits has also negatively affected Transport for London’s (TfL) revenue from commuter fares, reported by the London Standard News.
