Liverpool posts positive office figures, but conversions show threat

Office take-up in Liverpool city centre reached 170,000 sq ft in the first half of this year, a 13% increase on the same period in 2015, according to Professional Liverpool’s property group.

The first half of 2016 also saw just under 1 million sq ft of investment transactions being completed in the city with key deals including India Buildings, No1 Tithebarn, Exchange Station, Yorkshire House, Federation House and most recently 20 Chapel Street.

The average size of letting has increased, from 1,450 sq ft in the first half of 2015 to 2,600 sq ft in 2016.

The Professional Liverpool property group also reported a continuing trend of office accommodation being acquired for conversion to alternative use such as residential and leisure. In 2016 so far, a total of 320,000 sq ft has changed use including Silkhouse Court to Fortis Developments and Signature Living for residential conversion, and Arthouse Square which is earmarked for a luxury hotel.

Despite the positive figures, the first half continued to see a steep decline in available good quality office stock throughout the city. It is reported that if the upward trend in lettings continues, less than 500,000 sq ft will be available for occupation by the end of 2016, which is a 50% decrease of occupiable space from previous years.

Neil Kirkham, director at CBRE, said: “Available stock within Liverpool is eroding at a highly rapid rate. This limited supply against an improved level of demand has already seen incentives in the form of rent free period reducing, albeit the market has not quite caught up with the lack of stock and we are therefore predicting that these incentives will also reduce quite drastically before year end with a consequential upwards pressure on headline rentals.”

Discussing the findings, the chairman of Professional Liverpool’s property group, Tony Reed of Keppie Massie, said: “It has been another strong half to 2016 in Liverpool as there continues to be an increase in transactions and take-up levels and the statistics are extremely encouraging and set to continue into the second half of 2016.

“However the issue continues that we are soon to be faced with a shortage of good quality office space. In previous years Liverpool has always held in excess of 1 million sq ft of occupiable space available. It is worrying that by the end of 2016 this could be less than 500,000 sq ft and with a lack of development pipeline, we may see a significant shortage of office supply over the next 12 to 24 months.”

The update is compiled by the property group of Professional Liverpool comprising the main nine office agencies of CBRE, Bilfinger GVA, Keppie Massie, Mason Owen, Matthews & Goodman, LSH, Mason Partners, Hitchcock Wright & Partners and Worthington Owen.

Your Comments

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Potentially worrying with the rate of conversions going on.

However, this could also be a good opportunity for office developments to regenerate Tithebarn Street and Pall Mall.

St Peters Sq always seems slow with take up…never really sure why.

Office stock is defiantly something which needs addressing. Office space in Leeds and Manchester/Salford seems to be increasing with various developments (Wellington Place in Leeds is quite noticeable http://www.mepc.com/pdfs/availability/6_wellington_place.pdf).

Liverpool needs to play catchup. It can’t simply rely on tourism to support the city. We’ve been reliant on one industry before which ended badly.

By Anon

Yes, very strange market at present, even the Grade “A” offices in Mann Island seem to be vacant..Is there a secret plan for Peel to suddenly take advantage of the dearth of “A” offices
or will ” Super Joe” make another surprise announcement of a huge office development and tennants just in time for the forthcoming Mayoral Elections…I wonder?

By Man on bicycle

Let’s be honest these are dire figures. The Liverpool office market is not the force it once was. Fellow agents please be honest and admit there is a huge problem with the lack of quality occupiers.

By john

By what measure are the figures “dire” John? Seems from the article that agents are worried about a lack of office supply not occupiers.

By zebith

We suffer from comparison with Manchester, occupying the same region, even if slightly different markets, like no other city does. As the hype reduces in that city Liverpool should be seen in its own right as a distinctive centre with great advantages. Let’s concentrate on increasing the supply.

By Alfie

Meanwhile, 7.6m sq ft in the pipeline down the road in Manchester. How many buses can Liverpool afford to miss?

By timelord

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