Commercial Property Market Review – January 2021

Sustainable buildings – property developers tune in

Savills’ most recent review of the UK commercial property ‘Market in Minutes‘, includes analysis on the connection between sustainability and growth in the sector. With sustainability issues generally rising to the fore, the property sector is no exception, as developers tune into this growing area of interest.

Occupiers are increasingly indicating that they are prepared to only pay a rental premium for buildings with notable environmental certifications, such as BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). This is an international scheme providing independent third-party certification of the assessment of the sustainability performance of individual buildings, communities and infrastructure projects.

The benefits of more sustainable buildings are wide ranging. In addition to potentially generating lower long-term operational costs, they can also draw higher occupancy rates and command higher rents. They also tend to experience quicker lease-up times and drive an increase in capital value.

The research provides examples where a high BREEAM rating is commanding higher rents, such as in Manchester’s business district. Landmark, a Grade A scheme, offering sustainable features such as electric car charging points and solar panels, has a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and is let at the city’s premium rental rate of £36.50 per sq ft.

Retail footfall drops 43.4% in 2020

With footfall numbers plummeting by over two fifths last year, after the pandemic and lockdowns took their toll, retailers have vocalised their requirement for further government support.

According to data from the British Retail Consortium, UK footfall halved in Q4. London was hardest hit in December, with footfall down 58%, as it was among the first areas to enter tier 4 restrictions, involving closure of most high street stores, restaurants and pubs. Other badly impacted areas were South East England and Wales.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, called on the government to extend a property tax holiday for retailers in the face of Lockdown 3.0, commenting, “A third lockdown will be one too many for some businesses. Rent bills continue to weigh heavily and the threat of a return to full business rates liability in April still looms. The government must urgently reassure those businesses hardest hit by the pandemic that they will receive vital financial support in the form of an extension to the coronavirus business rates relief.

2020 a record year for UK logistics

Global commercial property broker and manager, CBRE, recently released a snapshot of the UK logistics sector, reporting that 2020 was a record year. Following two record quarters (Q2 and Q3 2020), a ‘huge jump in investment’ in Q4 was evident, demonstrating the continued popularity of the logistics sector. Total investment for the year was £8bn, with a colossal £4.6bn recorded in Q4 alone.

The most active logistics sectors in 2020 were online retail (31.3%) and third-party logistics (29.3%), which involves an organisation’s use of third-party businesses to outsource elements of its distribution, warehousing, and fulfilment services. Unable to keep up with the unprecedented demand, a significant decrease in vacancy and availability was recorded. According to CBRE, the outlook for the year ahead looks ‘promising’, with an increase in properties under offer already occurring.

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Commercial property currently for sale in the UK

  • Regions with the highest number of commercial properties for sale currently are the South West and North West of England
  • Northern Ireland currently has the lowest number of commercial properties for sale (34 properties)
  • There are currently 1,262 commercial properties for sale in London, the average asking price is £1,235,606

 

Source: Zoopla, data extracted 21 January 2021

Region No. properties AVG. asking price
London 1,262 £1,235,606
South East England 1,221 £642,608
East Midlands 836 £964,710
East of England 749 £539,865
North East England 913 £331,128
North West England 1,619 £424,906
South West England 1,659 £629,553
West Midlands 1,171 £499,117
Yorkshire and The Humber 1,292 £315,601
Isle of Man 50 £463,587
Scotland 1,295 £291,502
Wales 737 £383,420
Northern Ireland 34 £294,522

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Commercial property outlook

Investment Enquiries – broken down by sector

 

  • Investment enquiries were slightly less negative than Q2
  • There was an improvement in demand for industrial assets
  • Overseas investment demand declined across all three sectors.

 

Source: RICS, UK Commercial Property Market Survey, Q3 2020

Captial Value Expectations – broken down by sector

 

  • 12 month capital value expectations are comfortably positive for both prime and secondary industrial assets
  • Values are expected to rise for data centres (net balance +46%) and aged care facilities (net balance +11%) over the year.

 

Source: RICS, UK Commercial Property Market Survey, Q3 2020

All details are correct at the time of writing (21 January 2021)

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