Investor confidence returns as pricing plateaus UK commercial investment volumes totalled £5.6bn in Q1 2023, according to a report from Savills, the second lowest quarterly volume since 2009. Amidst a volatile and unpredictable economic backdrop, investment volumes were lower than any quarter except Q2 2020. The average Savills prime yield now stands at 5.57% after yields in industrial and regional Read More
Economic Review – March 2023
UK expected to avoid recession Revised forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggest the UK will not enter recession this year despite households facing a record drop in spending power. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled the independent fiscal watchdog’s latest projections during his Spring Budget statement delivered to the House of Commons on 15 March. Mr Hunt declared it Read More
Residential Property Review – March 2023
Spring Budget – ‘trailblazer’ deals announced In the Spring Budget on 15 March, as part of the Levelling Up White Paper, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced ‘trailblazer’ deals giving new and deeper devolution powers to local leaders in the Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities. For the first time outside of London, local leaders will now be able to set Read More
Commercial Property Market Review – March 2023
Spring Budget – Investment Zones announced On 15 March, Jeremy Hunt delivered his “Budget for Growth” focusing on four pillars ‘Everywhere, Enterprise, Employment and Education.’ Encompassed within the ‘Everywhere’ pillar, Mr Hunt spoke about the government’s plans for ‘Levelling Up,’ including the launch of 12 new Investment Zones or “potential Canary Wharfs”. For each of the eight zones in England, Read More
Residential Property Review – February 2023
Housing market continues slowdown According to the latest UK Residential Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) new buyer demand, sales, fresh listings and prices are all on a downward trend. January saw the ninth successive negative monthly reading for new buyer enquiries, with contributors to the survey in all parts of the UK reporting either a fall Read More
Economic Review – February 2023
Interest rate peak may be approaching Last month the Bank of England (BoE) announced another hike in its benchmark interest rate but hinted that rates may now be nearing a peak, as the tide in its battle with inflation begins to turn. Following its latest meeting held at the beginning of February, the BoE’s nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted Read More
Commercial Property Market Review – February 2023
Commercial market downbeat but withstanding Conditions in the commercial property market continued to decline in Q4 2022, according to the latest UK Commercial Property Market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). At the national level, 83% of respondents consider the market to be in downturn, a slight increase from 81% in the previous quarter. All-sector net balance Read More
Economic Review – January 2023
UK growth beats expectations The latest gross domestic product (GDP) statistics show the economy unexpectedly grew in November easing fears that the UK has already slipped into recession. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the UK economy expanded by 0.1% in November. This figure was higher than any forecast submitted to a Reuters poll of Read More
