Race for space as supply crunch continues
ACCORDING TO the latest research by Colliers, industrial occupiers are in a race for space as the UK is experiencing the lowest level of supply ever recorded.
The firm says ‘only 18.1 million sq ft is left, due to demand for logistics units continuing to be driven by the structural change in consumer spending patterns.
Colliers states that take-up in 2021 for industrial distribution warehouses of 100,000 sq ft+ reached 50.7 million sq ft, up 3.6 per cent year-on-year, a new record for the sector.
The research demonstrates that investors and developers are responding to this demand, with 11.1 million sq ft of speculatively built supply of 100,000 sq ft+ completed in 2021. This is the equivalent of 26 Wembley Stadiums and 49 per cent more space than in 2020. However 75 per cent of this speculatively developed space in 2021 has either already let or is under offer.
The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal that the share of online sales of total retail sales have increased to 30.1 per cent from 21.6 per cent in November 2019 prior to the pandemic. So Colliers predicts an annual e-commerce share of circa 29% for 2021, potentially a new record. Demand for new industrial warehouses will remain elevated and rents will continue to rise strongly as a result throughout 2022. This rental rises will continue to trouble occupiers looking to bolster their ability to keep up with the increasing demand for speedy and timely deliveries.
Colliers head of industrial and logistics Len Rosso, said: “While we are tracking circa 18 million sq ft of speculative supply advertised for completion by the end of this year, the sector really needs this extra space to function properly and given the strength of the demand, we believe that the market will not be oversupplied in 2022.”
