Why utilisation monitoring?
Utilisation monitoring gives you a clear, data-rich view of every desk, room, building and portfolio. Armed with real data, you can make confident decisions that:
Identify underused or vacant rooms
Reconfigure or consolidate services
Unlock opportunities to deliver more patient care
Support bids and business cases with real evidence
Reduce costs and realise the value of your estate
NHS spaces are often used less than 40% of the time
Our utilisation monitoring shows that rooms often sit empty, even when buildings feel busy.
Download the brochure to learn more about:
- How NHS Open Space can provide the full picture of your estate — from daily activity levels to occupancy patterns
- How we can help you make informed, data-driven decisions that unlock value and support long-term strategic planning.
What we help you achieve
Estate-wide visibility
at desk, room, building and portfolio level
All-in-one utilisation reporting
for demised, bookable and vacant space
Behavioural and trend insights
understand patterns of use, peak demand, and no-shows
Evidence-based recommendations
drive occupancy, consolidate, repurpose, or dispose of surplus space
Real insight. Real savings. Real results.
Located in Suffolk, Sudbury Community Health Centre serves a growing population with a blend of clinical and non-clinical services.
The local ICB sought to understand whether there was space to expand GP services or whether the building needed an extension.
A three-month utilisation study revealed 36.7% overall utilisation — with 40% of rooms vacant even at peak times and 35 rooms with less than 45% usage.
The result? A £1.5m cost saving due to the extension not being needed, as the GP could expand their services within the existing footprint.
Located in Reading, Bath Road is a three-storey property with non-clinical office and administration space accommodating NHS and private tenants, including Buckingham and Berkshire ICB and Berkshire Health Foundation Trust. The ICB identified the site as a core location but needed robust data to understand whether space was being used effectively and if additional services could be accommodated.
A six-week utilisation study revealed just 7.1% overall utilisation on the ground and first floors, confirming significant underutilisation. This presented an opportunity to consolidate and redesign the space.
The result? Over £1.1m in combined savings for the ICB and Trust, achieved by consolidating services and the release of two additional sites. This enabled a refurbishment of Bath Road and the creation of new clinical capacity within the existing footprint.
From ongoing utilisation monitoring across NHS Property Services' national portfolio, NHS Open Space has helped double utilisation over the last five years, from 19% to 41.2%.
Which is right for me?
Utilisation study
A time-bound study, typically used to answer a specific question or questions about your estate utilisation.
Ongoing monitoring
Continuous monitoring enables you to understand your estate utilisation over time and track optimisation initiatives.
Not sure?
We're here to discuss your challenges and suggest the best solution for you. Get in touch
Hear from our experts
In this video, Christopher King, Head of NHS Open Space, and Rajiv Tyagi, Business Management Partner, detail the benefits of utilisation studies and ongoing monitoring.
Speak to our teamFlexible, affordable options
A utilisation study is quick, non-intrusive, and highly cost-effective. Prices start from:
- Ten rooms for as little as £2,000
- One hundred rooms for just £5,000
- Potential savings of hundreds of thousands — even millions — through better use of space
As part of the NHS, every penny we get is reinvested across the NHS to transform the national estate. We're not here for profit. We exist to make the system work better — for you and for patients.
POA for utilisation monitoring.