Friday, 11 February 2011
York set to buck downward trend
Reeves and Co, based at Monks Cross, reported that they have been successful in transacting over 80,000 sq ft of office space in York in the last 6 months, with deals including the former Aviva HQ at Clifton Park (43,000 sq ft) and recently letting the former Jarvis building at The Crescent, York (25,000 sq ft), along with a number of smaller offices at Monks Cross and Holgate Villa, on Holgate Road.
John Reeves said ‘To put the extent of this recent success in context, a market report released by property advisers DTZ has shown that for the whole of the first three months of the year in Leeds only 83,000 sq ft of office space was transacted. Nobody pretends the world is all hunky dory but when you consider the size of some of these deals against what Leeds has managed it shows York is still a great place to do business.’
On average York has a take up of approximately 150,000 sq ft of space per annum and if this letting trend continues York will buck the national trend of falling office take up.
However John added ‘It is getting tougher out there. There is little bank support for business and empty rates legislation combined with banks inability or possibly disinclination to lend have put a stop to development for the foreseeable future which is causing chaos in the construction sector. When an occupier wants a property they are driving hard deals and it’s only the best property that is letting well. We feel the lack of new development may well lead to a shortage of property in future which will change the market from a buyers to sellers market and the unenviable cycles we see ourselves in will start all over again.’
January Update
Happy new year to one and all!
Reeves and Co. are starting the year with big plans for 2011. The final quarter of 2010 finished strongly for us with numerous deals being concluded before the year end. The recent success we have been having is due to being realistic in a difficult market place, this means asking achievable rents and being open to offering incentives to potential clients/purchasers. We do not foresee a noticeable pick up in demand for early 2011 however by being proactive we can still make deals happen.2011 will not be plain sailing, especially with termination of the government empty rates allowance for small properties which is going to have a major impact on the industry. Many landlords will be reviewing their portfolios to decide if it is even possible to continue to hold a building. The irony being that to justify the decision the government proclaimed that this was a way to enforce commercialism, to spur on landlords into getting new tenants by offering flexibility and value. The reality is quite different as there is a strong possibility of supply simply drying up in the medium term due to increased demolition and a severe lack of supply coming through the development sector.Reeves and Co. are keen to assist landlord with their property strategy. If you have vacant accommodation please get in contact and see if Reeves and Co. can be of assistance to you in 2011.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Lendal Tower
It’s a strange old world in property development. Back in 2009 The Lendal Tower Venture, a Helmsley Group Venture, bought Lendal tower and transformed Whistler House and Lendal Hill House into 2 desirable homes.. These were snapped up by the, now infamous, property investment group run by the Hattersley dynasty which of course ended in tears and bankruptcy some 9 months ago
Helmsley subsequently repurchased the property from the bankrupt group only to find that all the work they had carried out returning the houses to their original glory had been destroyed
Max Reeves of Helmsley takes up the story ‘we have no comprehension as to why the internals had been removed including parts of kitchens and bathrooms and new walls erected. It was not vandalism but there must have been a plan to change the buildings in some way which never reached fruition. It seemed so sad and such a waste that a perfectly good and never lived in renovated properties could have been ruined in such a way’
However after a further year the properties have been refurbished completely and once again and for a second time provide beautiful, extensive 2 and 3 bed roomed homes with private gardens and river views in the absolute heart of the City from £325,000. Almost a unique prospect and available through Carter Jonas York
Lendal Tower itself has been resold to a private individual who will create a luxury residence adjacent whilst the Pump House is being converted to restaurant premises which will not impact on the houses as the entire concept was designed as one at day one.
Max said’ for something unique like these homes there will always be buyers. The chance to buy a piece of York history with parts dating back to the 14th century and visible changes up to today’s date is something very special’
The agents will be holding an open morning on August 14th
www.reevesandco.com