Bidwells launches its latest Our View on Offices and Labs research. Bidwells estimate 22% of the UK’s science park space is located in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Take up in the office and laboratory markets continue to exceed historic trend levels, with an increasing proportion of this space absorbed by knowledge intensive businesses.
Bidwells’ Logistics and Industrial team transacted just over 2m sq ft of space in the first half of 2019 – more than doubling its previous six-month record.
New PM Boris Johnson used his first speech outside No 10 to deliver an energetic new narrative around the UK economy. Those listening with an interest in Oxfordshire and science and technology will have sat up a number of times, writes Head of Oxford, Richard Todd.
Rents have risen sharply over the last 12 months to reach a new high of £40 per sq ft after availability dipped to a ten year low of 6.3%. That’s a jump from £23 sq ft at end of 2014.
The latest offices and labs research conducted by Bidwells found rent levels hitting another new high for the city. Prime office rents rose £3.50 psf in the first half of 2019 to a new peak of £45 psf after the city experienced the busiest six months of letting activity since 2016.
House prices across the world’s tech hubs are 20% higher than local averages as employees from the likes of Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook scramble for space, according to analysis from Bidwells.
Offices and labs take up in Oxford and Cambridge has averaged 1 million sq ft per annum over the past three years, with almost 75% of this occupied by knowledge-based companies, finds Bidwells Research Director Sue Foxley.
The government wants to expand the UK space industry and launch new spaceports. Adam Branson asks what the latest space race means for the property industry