LONDON, March 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report launched today, Building Quality of Life, commissioned by Development Securities PLC, one of the UK's leading property companies, reveals the huge pressures on our general happiness and well-being and the key contribution that the property industry can make to improving quality of life in Britain.

The research, conducted by University College London and built environment consultants BRE on behalf of Development Securities, reveals:

- Well-being of employees appears to be very low down on companies' priorities - Green buildings are not always better for occupants - Tyranny of one-size-fits-all open plan offices sometimes badly fails occupants - UK is lagging behind Europe in well-being welfare

The UK's long working hours and service economy means we spend most of our time indoors. The report argues that we can no longer afford to ignore the economic and social implications of bad buildings on our quality of life. According to experts cited in the report, poorly planned spaces could result in up to a 20% drop in our productivity and lead to a range of health and behavioral problems.

The report strengthens new thinking from leading political and academic figures into the concept of happiness economics: the idea that happiness and well-being need to be key factors in measures of a country's economic and social process. Looking at the UK, the report argues that there is a widespread reluctance among companies to invest in improvements to working conditions, and as a result occupants' well-being suffers. The paradox is that employers are prepared to invest in employing people, but seemingly not in their social well-being.

In addition, once-lauded open-plan offices may make people feel anxious, distracted, and tense. BRE's survey for the report of 20,000 professionals uncovered a number of issues with such layouts including unsatisfactory temperatures (55%), lack of privacy (56%) and the amount of quiet space provided (60%).

To counter the worrying issues and trends identified, the report's main recommendations are that we:

- Shift the main focus from new buildings to existing stock: some 80% of the buildings that will be still standing in 2025 already exist - Give tax breaks on refurbishments and redevelopments made to old buildings rather than just the new ones - Eliminate productivity killers, such as uncomfortably high temperatures and poor ventilation - Measure people's quality of life and happiness at work - Ask building occupants about their working environments and keep on asking them

Michael Marx, Chief Executive of Development Securities PLC, said:

All of us - Government, planners, architects and property developers - need to think more critically about the environments and workspaces that we create. Otherwise there is a risk that with current building and design trends, we could see a return to near-Dickensian working environments where people are packed like battery hens into spaces that they don't like and can't control. Employers and property industry players have to recognise these challenges and mitigate these risks.

The Building Quality of Life report is available to download on http://ww7.investorrelations.co.uk/devsec/research.jsp under Contacts and Research.

SOURCE: Development Securities Plc

CONTACT: Contact: Mallika Basu, The Communication Group,+44(0)20-7630-1411,mbasu@thecommunicationgroup.co.uk