State of the Region Survey: How will commercial property fare in 2011?
LIKE many industries during 2010, the commercial property sector has endured its fair share of ups and downs throughout the year.
Among the highlights has been the launch, or relaunch, of the Big City Plan – a 20-year masterplan to rejuvenate and revitalise Birmingham city centre over the course of the next two decades.
Elsewhere, there has still been plenty of activity in the lettings market with office floorspaces both big and small being snapped up across the West Midlands
Among the headline grabbers has been the successful revamp and launch of Chord’s mixed-use complex overlooking picturesque St Paul’s Square, in Birmingham and the 107,000 sq ft letting at Calthorpe Estates’ complex, in Edgbaston.
By contrast, researchers have pointed to downward occupancy trends across the West Midlands, particularly in the industrial sector.
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But speak to anyone working within property, whether it be architects or agents, buyers or sellers, and they will say that their industry is facing its challenges head on and golden opportunities are out there if you know where to look.
In our major survey of the views of business leaders in the West Midlands, run in conjunction with law firm DLA Piper, we are keen to hear the views of those working within the commercial property sector.
We want to gauge how you feel about the state of your industry and the wider West Midlands business community as a whole.
The questions for our 55,000 subscribers aim to provide a measure of business confidence across three major regions of the UK.
Russell Orme, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Birmingham office, said: “It’s a challenging 12 months for businesses of every shape and size. Realism is probably the overriding sentiment as we approach 2011.”
Your answers matter and knowing how time is precious for those running businesses, we have made the survey quick and simple – it will take you no more than three minutes to complete.
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