Throughout the year we have been bringing you commercial property market news and stories on related topics. Below is a reminder of the ups and downs of 2012.
January
The year opened with news that, despite the impact of prolonged economic uncertainty on the market, investment in UK commercial property continued to outstrip that of other European countries.
We also reported that the long and colourful career of property tycoon Gerald Ronson had been capped with the award of a CBE in the New Year Honours List.
February
With the economic outlook still showing little sign of improvement February brought a report from CBRE highlighting falls in value across all categories of commercial property.
March
In March we examined the Budget and the impact it was likely to have on businesses and the market.
Other stories we covered in March included two articles focusing on market performance and investment levels in the East and West Midlands.
April
April brought news that vacancy rates on UK high streets had hit record levels with landlords finding it increasingly difficult to find tenants.
On a brighter note it was reported that office take-up in Birmingham in the year to date had been better than expected.
May
May brought a heat wave with temperatures reaching as high as 28 degrees Celsius. The heat was also rising in the London commercial property market ahead of the capital’s sporting summer.
June
In June first quarter figures showed that, London aside, values continued to fall. June was also the month of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and a number of articles highlighted opportunities for businesses to profit from the party.
July
Worldwide property news in July included stories about developments in Dubai and Iraq. At home the month ended with the spectacular opening ceremony of London 2012, the international sporting extravaganza that generated huge levels of commercial development around the Olympic Park.
August
News in August included reports about opportunities for investors in countries as far apart as Russia and Zambia. We also looked at the reasons Leeds was bucking the national trend in terms of speculative commercial property developments.
Other stories included the threat to London’s famous Cork Street art galleries from a proposed residential development and the government’s sell-off of school playing fields.
September
As the wash-out summer gave way to autumn we carried a story about the average cost of Welsh farmland doubling since 2006.
Also in the news was a report showing that UK commercial rents had fallen over the past quarter and a story about new Community Right to Bid legislation that may prevent landlords making quick sales of certain types of property.
October
In October we highlighted Scottish Government proposals to cut business rates relief on unoccupied properties from 50 per cent to 10 per cent.
International stories included news of improvements in the commercial markets in Dubai and Canada.
November
Highlights in November included the news that, relative to its GDP, Manchester is outperforming Paris and Milan in terms of property investment.
We also carried stories on squatters occupying commercial premises in Chelsea, the improving US mortgage market and the benefits to landlords of going green.
December
This month, as 2012 draws to a close, we have reported on Asian investment in the London office market, a commercial property boom in Manila and a battle over the tenancy of a property in Primrose Hill.
So those are some of the highlights from Movehut News over the past 12 months. What will we be reporting on in 2013? Visit us again tomorrow to find out!
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