Chinese investors have reaffirmed their confidence in UK real estate in the latest Cushman & Wakefield Chinese Outbound Investor Intentions Survey.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents said that Brexit would create opportunities for investment in UK property. More than 60% were investors looking to enter the market for the first time.
Despite the rise in interest, the US still attracted the most investment from Chinese investors, followed by Australia. While those two countries have seen a fall in allocations, the UK, coming in third, saw a rise in 2016.
The six biggest UK property deals by Chinese investors this year totalled $1.5bn (£1.2bn). These included China Life and Brookfield’s purchase of Aldgate Tower, E1, and GR Properties’ deal for Boundary House, EC3.
Investors said they believed that Brexit would lead to a stronger relationship with the UK, making trading and investing easier.
No investor was planning to leave the UK market, although 8.7% said they had UK investments with no intention to expand in the coming five years.
The survey was done in August before the government signed a contract with France and China to build the Hinkley Point C power station.
From October: Leaving the EU: a celebration or a curse for real estate?
From July: Picton sells Boundary House for £27.8m
From April: Aldgate Tower sold for £346m
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