While industrial rents across the UK grew by an average of just 1.1% in the first half of 2003, Leicester saw industrial growth of 4.8%, with Coventry at 4.5% and Birmingham at 4.25%. Of the major Midlands centres only Nottingham experienced zero growth.

Caroline Mills, regional head of industrial property at Atis Real Weatheralls, said the lack of quality supply as the driving force behind the Midlands industrial market. "The ongoing shortage of good quality industrial space should sustain the region's current rental growth and will provide a solid platform for future growth in the Midlands once long-term economic conditions improve," she said.

Atis Real Weatheralls' report also highlights the continuing trend towards owner-occupation in the industrial market, especially in the 5,000 to 25,000-sf size bracket, as occupiers take advantage of current low rates of interest.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM Digital Member, you’ll receive:

  • Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
  • Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
  • Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.