Robert Patterson, Partner at Sanderson Weatherall and Head of Office Agency gives
his thoughts on current trends within the office sector in North East city centres.
In the last 12 to 18 months, regional city centres have seen a significant increase
in the supply of office stock owing to the effects the recession has had on business.
In order to attract tenants, landlords have had to demonstrate substantial flexibility
in lease terms and occupancy costs. This has led to an increase in tenant incentives
in an attempt to get the market moving again and encourage tenants to take up
some of the excess stock.
For landlords that can afford to be more flexible, this decision seems to be
paying off.
As the available credit from banks dried up, so did many potential developments
that would have been coming available in 2010. For schemes that continued, void
rates of 100% are also impacting on buildings nearing completion at the moment.
Also, with the outward movement in investment yields and the funding market,
this will restrict new speculative building starts without prelets – resulting
in a further hold up in the movement and progression of the market.
Within our city centres, the lack of new developments may result in a focus on
the refurbishment of existing stock providing this can meet the needs of business
and the green agenda.
In essence, those companies looking for available office space that is right
for their needs should act now to take advantage of competitive incentives as
this is a good time in the property cycle to relocate.