Total take-up in Q3 reached just over 9m sq ft, up 2.5m sq ft on Q2. Take-up from manufacturing companies totalled 1.2m sq ft in Q3, accounting for only 13% of total UK take-up - the lowest proportion since Q4 2010. This coincides with the recent downturn in manufacturing PMI survey sentiment and reflects uncertainty in Eurozone export markets.
Take-up in other sectors increased, with retail and logistics occupiers taking 5m sq ft and 1.7m sq ft, respectively. Grade A take-up totalled 2.5m sq ft in Q3, with 64% in the East and West Midlands. Contrary to recent trends, a large proportion of this Midlands take-up was through existing grade A buildings rather than build-to-suit or pre-let deals. This took another 920,000 sq ft off UK grade A availability – now down to just under 9m sq ft.
Source : DTZ