Total returns on investment into Central London’s booming office market increased to 1.5% in November, the fastest growth in all commercial real estate markets, according to the latest CBRE Monthly Index. Central London offices also delivered rental value growth of 1.1% and capital value growth of 1.3%, both over three times that of offices in the Rest of the UK segment.
The strength of the Central London office market has been a feature of 2015, with total returns reaching 16.8% so far this year, well ahead of the 12.8% total return seen across the UK’s commercial property market as a whole. The industrial sector has also performed particularly well, delivering returns of 16.4% in the first 11 months of the year; 17.8% from industrial property in the South East.
Within Central London’s strong office market, Midtown has been the star performer, delivering returns of 2.3% in November alone and 21.5% so far this year. The West End and City both recorded total returns of 1.6% last month.
Based on the trajectory in 2015, total returns measured by CBRE’s Monthly Index are expected to reach over 14% across the UK by the year end, slightly lagging the 19.7% return seen in 2014. However, it should be said that monthly index returns (both CBRE and IPD) have been higher than IPD’s quarterly index so far this year. This is probably due to the different type of asset in the monthly indices, generally slightly higher yielding assets, particularly in the Retail sector.
Chris Brett, Head of International Capital Markets at CBRE, commented: “Commercial property investments won’t deliver the same return as in 2014, but our monthly index is likely to show total return of 14% for 2015 (well ahead of the 8.2% average since 2000). London and the South East have been an engine for growth, driving returns in both office and industrial markets.”
