The document summarizes a study evaluating the sustainability of office locations for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Bristol city region of the UK. A survey of SMEs found that location factors like cost, space, broadband and transport access were most important. However, over 50% of office stock was found to have poor public transport access. City center locations generally had the best sustainability ratings. While no single measure fully captures sustainability, the study found visualizing different location data provided new insights into factors important for SMEs. Current sustainability assessment criteria may not adequately evaluate accessibility.

4. Study area: Bristol city-region

5. Survey - location factor ranks Cost of premises Floor space Broadband Internet availability Access by car Proximity to employees Director's personal preference Environmental quality Safety/crime levels Access by public transport Prestige of location Access to customer/client Access to shops and restaurants Proximity to similar business Proximity to university Low High Importance

7. Organisation Date Assessment Sustainable location criteria 2008 BREEAM for offices (UK) 650m bus stops (frequency of service) 1000m railway stations (frequency of service) 500m grocery shop and/or food outlet, postbox and cash machine 1992 Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) (London) 8 minutes bus stop (640m) 12 minutes train station (960m) 2005 LEED Green Building Rating System (US) 800m rail 400m two or more bus 2001 Interim Transport Accessibility Criteria (SW) 300m/600m food shop and primary school 600m/1000m other non-residential facilities 200m/400m bus stop 600m bus station 800m railway station 2004 Accession (UK) 30 minutes various facilities and workplace by public transport 2005 Land Use & Public Transport Accessibility Index (LUPTAI) (Australia) 5 minutes bus stop (400m) 10 minutes train station (800m)

9. Method: network analysis Pedestrian path network with all offices, bus stops and railway stations (Bath) Identifying all bus stops within 650m of one office building, using ESRI Network Analyst

10. Method: spatial join and analysis

12. A map of public transport access

13. Key findings: 2 City centre locations are most ‘sustainable’ Cabot House new Environment Agency HQ

14. … other office location types Rural: Kelston Park, Bath Edge of city: Paintworks, Bristol Business park: Aztec West, Bristol Small town: Thornbury

15. Key findings: 3 ‘ Sustainable’ too complex to map Source: This work is based on data provided through EDINA UKBORDERS with the support of the ESRC and JISC and uses boundary material which is copyright of the Crown. VOA data copyright Focus 2008 Equal weighting Local environment quality weighted high Access to public transport weighted high Key Office location

16. …but GI creates new knowledge Broadband availability

17. Services and amenities … by visualising information

18. Key findings: 4 The value of place means many different things to SMEs, but location is still important “ fast broadband and quality communications” “ the ‘feel’ of a place” “ good public transport” “ quality of life” “ a ‘professional’ location” a “local cafe” for business meetings “ good local facilities… together with a local vibe” “ good infrastructure is key”

19. Key findings: 5 Current Government guidance for assessing sustainability of buildings may be inadequate BREEAM criteria for accessibility: - maximum credits given to over 55% offices - credits given to offices with ‘poor’ accessibility BREEAM credits for offices in Bristol city-region