After a positive start to the year, occupier demand fell for the second consecutive quarter in Q3 2010, although the net balance was slightly less negative at -7 compared to -9 in Q2. Demand for office space showed the greatest decline, falling to -14, after growing to +19 at the beginning of 2010.
Chartered surveyors report that concerns over the economy have prompted a more cautious attitude from firms when making investment decisions, which is impacting heavily on the market.
Supply to the market continued to increase at roughly the same pace as previous three months. The biggest rises occurred in the Midlands and the North, while available space broadly stabilised in London and the South West.
Office space increased at the greatest pace; with 23 per cent more chartered surveyors reporting a rise than a fall in availability. By way of contrast, the amount of retail space fell in the South West and South East for the first time since 2005, perhaps signaling an improvement in the retail market there.
Surveyors’ expectations for increased supply and weaker demand impacted on their outlook for rental growth, with 16 per cent more anticipating rents falling rather than rising over the next three months.
Expectations for Central London office rents stabilised after increasing in Q2, while industrial rents in the capital also broadly stabilised. Elsewhere however, rental expectations dropped across the office, retail and industrial sectors.
Development starts for office property in Central London increased for the first time since the crisis, albeit at a relatively slow pace. This is reflected by new large scale developments such as the 37-storey ‘Walkie Talkie’ skyscraper in the City of London, showing some confidence may be returning to this sector of the market.
However, the picture is not as positive across the rest of England and Wales where starts continue to decline in all other sectors and regions. Development activity in the London retail sector was also particularly weak.
Investment purchases in property also declined over the past three months, with 12 per cent more surveyors reporting a fall than rise in purchases of commercial real estate. Significantly, softer investment demand for office and industrial real estate saw capital values fall back for the second consecutive quarter, with only London seeing rises in values.
Commenting, Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist said:
“We are seeing a mixed picture for the commercial property sector across England and Wales. The year started positively, but worries over the impact of spending cuts and the sustainability of the economic recovery appear to be creating an air of caution, which is impacting on the commercial property sector.
“Nevertheless, providing the private sector does begin to fill left by a smaller state and the inflation picture does not justify a sharp uplift in interest rates, the likelihood is that the commercial property market will avoid a meaningful relapse into recession.”
