Stability and optimism for commercial property
Average prime yields stabilised in November, according to the latest Market in Minutes report from Savills, which also pointed to an optimistic outlook for 2023.
The number of sectors seeing rising yields halved in a month, the report noted, though some sectors, including shopping centres and City of London offices are still predicted to see some outward yield shifts.
Commercial investment volumes moved above £50bn in November, a milestone that leaves volumes only 7% below the annual total achieved in 2019. The investment market has surprised on the upside since the middle of 2022; the alternative sector, was largely to thank, making up over a third of this investment.
The report’s optimism stems, in part from the finding that four of the ‘Big Six’ markets are projected to achieve rental growth next year. Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester will all have prime rents in excess of £40 per sq. ft by the end of 2023, Savills suggests.
Slowdown in Scotland
Scottish commercial property saw a dramatic slowdown in Q3 2022, according to Colliers, with investment plunging to just £200m.
The retail sector saw a total of £70m invested, while office investment volumes fell to just £40m, the weakest quarterly figure since Q2 2020. The industrial sector also experienced a slowdown, with just £20m transacted across three deals.
Despite the lacklustre quarter, however, the report notes that investment volumes for the year are now £1.7bn, 15% ahead of the corresponding 2021 figure.
Oliver Kolodseike, Research Director at Colliers, commented, “Scotland isn’t immune to the wider economic challenges that are sweeping the UK and as such, we are seeing the Scottish commercial property market find itself in the middle of a re-pricing.”
‘Once in a generation moment’ for Oxford Street
The diversification of Oxford Street will be a ‘generational change’, according to Savills, with 1.32m sq. ft of new office schemes proposed for delivery in the next five years.
The conversion of former retail space into offices is expected to account for 960,000 sq. ft of the new office space. Key schemes currently include Sirosa’s 163,000 sq. ft at Emporium, previously a House of Fraser store, and an 80,000 sq. ft conversion of a former Next store at The Ribbon, due to be delivered by M&G in 2024.
The strong amenity and cultural offerings are big draws for Oxford Street, the report notes, as is its accessibility, which was further boosted this year by the opening of the new Bond Street Elizabeth Line station.
Andrew Wedderspoon, Director in the West End office agency team at Savills, commented, “While the area has been hard to imagine as a genuine office sub-market until now, the sheer volume of space available for conversion is a once in a generation moment to transform the street and attract those larger occupiers who may otherwise be pushed out of the West End due to a lack of opportunity.”
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