IT research and analyst company Gartner has launched a search for up to 110,000 sq ft of offices in and around the western M25 corridor.
The firm is understood to have appointed Cushman & Wakefield to lead the search.
It will be one of the biggest South East requirements since foods firm Kerry Group started looking for up to 250,000 sq ft of offices and research space in May.
Gartner has around 120,000 sq ft spread across smaller offices in Staines, Middlesex, but is keen to consolidate its staff under one roof. Most of its leases expire in 2015.
One agent said: “I think Gartner subleased quite a bit of its space, but as I understand it, the business is busier now and actually needs the space again. It wants to start looking now as there are only a handful of places that they could move to.”
New figures from Savills, released this week, show that Thames Valley grade-A office availability has fallen to 3.2m sq ft – the lowest level in five years.
The agent said supply would come under further strain, with 350,000 sq ft of deals expected to complete before the end of 2012, leaving just 2.9m sq ft available.
C&W and Gartner declined to comment.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
