Key highlights include:
- The London office market continues to resist any negative sentiment deriving from ongoing ‘Brexit’ negotiations. The City market has seen demand surge for off-plan space, which has elevated quarterly take-up to a five-year high.
- London-wide vacancy edged below 5% for the first time since early 2017, with availability of new/refurbished space close to an all-time record low for London. Occupiers are looking at alternative options which has driven down second-hand vacancy.
- Pipeline supply is being constrained further in the face of exceptional pre-letting activity. Of the 12 million sq ft now under construction across London, 7.5 million sq ft is either pre-let or under offer. 65% of space now confirmed for 2020 has already secured tenants.
- Demand is set to be bolstered further by a host of 100,000 sq ft requirements active across the entire London market.
- City headline rents rose for the first time in two years and we would expect headline rents across the entire London market to see upward pressure over the next 6 months, in the face of acute supply shortages for prime product.
