‘Positive start’ for Solihull office market
KWB’s Q1 M42 and Solihull office market review reveals a positive start to 2024, delivering take-up of 38,645 sq ft across nine deals.
In the largest deal of the quarter, Robert Half – the world’s largest specialised recruitment consultancy – took 11,001 sq ft of office space at AIR in Solihull town centre.
The second largest deal saw St James’s Place Wealth Management Group, take 9,272 sq ft of office space at One Central Boulevard on Blythe Valley Business Park, located at J4 of the M42.
The next two largest transactions were in Shirley, indicating the popularity for office space closer to the town centre and the motorway network.
Accountancy and professional services firm, Shareef & Co purchased the 5,102 sq ft Unit 4 Highlands Court in Cranmore, Shirley, providing high specification office space and parking facilities.
Also in Shirley, Epwin Group, a leading manufacturer, and supplier of energy-efficient and low-maintenance building products, took 3,398 sq ft at Friars Gate on the A34 Stratford Road, just five minutes from junction 4 of the M42.
Malcolm Jones, head of office agency at KWB, said: “The Robert Half deal reflects Solihull town centre’s excellent offer combination of high-quality office space, transport links and a vast array of local amenities.
“With six of the Q1’s nine deals being for smaller office space under 5,000 sq ft, this highlights the popularity for smaller, self-contained buildings that have been refurbished to a high standard.
“There was also demand for the purchase of freehold office space, accounting for three of the nine transactions.
“We saw plenty of enquiries for office space across Solihull and the M42 corridor during Q1 and look forward to several larger transactions competing over the coming months.”
