Office take-up in the south of England jumped 15% in the third quarter to 1.06m sq ft, according to Strutt & Parker.
This rise from the 900,000 sq ft transacted in Q2 means that total take-up in 2011 is expected to match 2010’s 4.23m sq ft.
Strutts calculated that the financial and business services sector accounted for 44% of new occupiers in Q3, IT firms represented 16%, and 7% were pharmaceutical businesses.
Some 61% of occupiers moved to out-of-town properties, with the remaining 39% taking space in town centres.
Rhodri Shaw, partner in Strutt’s national office agency, said: “There is approximately 750,000 sq ft of accommodation under offer, demonstrating that demand is beginning to translate into real increases in take-up.”
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
