New data from Cushman & Wakefield shows that despite a turbulent year, investment into UK real estate saw a strong end to 2019 with £17.6 billion of assets transacted in the final quarter led by funds (£6.1 billion) and REITs (£4.4 billion).
Jason Winfield, Head of Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “Overall, investment into UK real estate in 2019 reached £56 billion – a 13% fall on 2018 – but when you consider that 2019 saw the UK extend its deadline to leave the EU three times, vote on Brexit 17 times, appoint a new prime minister and undertake a turbulent general election; that figure is very respectable. The strong final quarter, which was arguably the most politically stable of 2019, demonstrates just how powerful a little bit of certainty can be in unleashing demand.”
London offices saw one of the largest accelerations in investment activity of all sectors following the general election. With many potential buyers still looking for assets and strong competition for space among occupiers, London offices could be the top performing investment sector in 2020.
While London offices may enjoy a bounce in performance in 2020, a structural shift into alternative real estate is likely to exceed a third of total volumes. Alternatives and development sites were popular investments in the fourth quarter, accounting for almost half the total at £8.2 billion.
Greg Mansell, Head of UK Research & Insight at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The appetite for alternatives and development opportunities highlights how investors are looking beyond core investment and the main sectors to achieve their goals. Entity-level deals and large portfolios are driving much of this increase, as they did throughout 2019. It also shouldn’t be missed that retail volumes picked up in the fourth quarter at £1.9 billion and has been further evidenced in early 2020 by an uptick in investment activity. This increase is a reminder that liquidity in the retail sector can improve if asking prices are realistic.”
Commenting on the outlook in Leeds, Richard Brooke, Partner in Cushman & Wakefield’s Capital Markets team in Leeds, said: “Regional transaction volumes increased in Q4 2019, a trend we see continuing into 2020. Occupational dynamics in both the Leeds office and West Yorkshire industrial markets are the strongest I have ever known, primarily driven by an acute lack of Grade A availability. For this reason, I expect our region will be the focus of strong investor activity in 2020.”
Jason Winfield added: “Investors are aware that 2020 will be a key phase of Brexit and even though much political uncertainty has dissipated, a great amount of change still lies ahead. For the more conservative investors, this could inhibit volumes for yet another year. However, for the growing number who are moving up the risk curve, 2020 could be the year to strike before clarity on Brexit sees competition swell.”
