Demand Barometer: What occupiers want – July 2024

Industrial remains the UK’s most in-demand property use type, although its lead over retail is an increasingly slender one, according to the latest analysis of enquiries generated through EG’s Propertylink listings site. The figures for July offer a detailed breakdown of enquiry levels by percentage across various use types and locations, revealing exactly what and where is prompting potential occupiers to pick up the phone or send an email. Sector overview With a 42.8% share of all enquiries on Propertylink, industrial is the most in-demand sector on a national level. However, its lead over retail is down to just 1.1 percentage points, down considerably since March, when the gap stood at almost 8 percentage points. Industrial’s share of total enquiries was at its lowest level of the year so far. By contrast, offices reached a 2024 high in July, with a 15.6% share of all enquiries. This contrasts with a low of 13.5% in both April and May.   Sector demand by region The South East, Greater London and East of England enjoyed a pronounced lead over the rest of the country in Propertylink enquiry levels across all three major use types. In offices, the South East has retaken its lead over Greater London, with more than a quarter of all office enquiries generated for space in the South East. Greater London’s office enquiry levels dropped by more than 3 percentage points compared with the previous month, while there was a 4 point drop in Scotland. The South West, however, saw a 2.2 percentage point increase and enquiries were up by 3.2 points in the East Midlands. In industrial, the South East also saw an increase in demand relative to the rest of the market. Compared with June, Propertylink enquiries were up by 1.5 points to 20.6%, while Greater London, the East of England and Scotland all saw small dips. The sharpest month-on-month increase came in the East Midlands, where enquiries were up by 2.5 points at 8.5%. Greater London witnessed a resurgence in demand for its retail offering, with a 3.9 point month-on-month jump in enquiry levels that took it to almost a quarter of the UK’s total, putting it ahead of the South East for the first time this year. The South East saw a 5.4 point dip in enquiry levels to 19.1% compared with June. Interest was up by 0.9 points in both Scotland and Yorkshire, and by 1.4 points in the South West. However, demand was down by 1.4 points in the East Midlands, while elsewhere it remained relatively stable.   Regional cities Outside London, Glasgow remains the biggest hotbed of demand, with a 0.2 percentage point month-on-month jump in enquiries giving it a 15.8% share of the total generated among the UK’s largest regional cities. Birmingham sits in second place on 8.8%, while Edinburgh is third on 8.2% after a 0.4 point dip against June.     Key movers It was a good month for cities in the Midlands. Not only did Birmingham consolidate its position in second place but there were month-on-month increases of 1.7 points in Nottingham, 1.6 points in Coventry and 0.6 points in Leicester. Manchester attracted its lowest proportion of Propertylink enquiries of the year to date, falling by 2.3 points month-on-month to just 2.2%. Elsewhere in the north of England, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield all dipped slightly, but there were small rises for both Liverpool and Bradford. Southampton held steady on 5.1% to remain top dog on the south coast, while enquiries in Brighton were down by 2.1 points month-on-month at 3.3% and Portsmouth saw a small increase.   EG’s demand insights are powered by activity across our industry-leading commercial property listings platform – Propertylink Main photo © Analogicus/Pixabay