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Episode details
World Service,·11 Aug 2026,·17 mins
Too many offices, not enough homes: can conversions work?
Business DailyAvailable for over a year
John Laurenson reports from La Défense in Paris on how Europe's biggest business district is turning vacant office space into housing. As hybrid working leaves more offices underused, cities are rethinking the future of these buildings. We compare developments in Paris with efforts in London and Washington DC and ask whether converting offices into homes could help tackle housing shortages and revive struggling business districts. Presenter/producer: John Laurenson You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk (Picture: People walking in La Défense business district in Paris. Credit: John Laurenson)
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