Retail properties still favoured by investors

Despite vacancy rates still on the rise in the UK, retail properties

are still the most favoured asset for investors, according to new research.

Colliers International’s Property Pricing Survey March 2011 revealed that 64 per cent of investment community favoured retail assets, 43 per cent preferred offices whilst 36 per cent chose industrial builds.

Central London and the south-east were the most popular regions for buying, favoured by 50 per cent of respondents, whilst places to dispose of retail properties were concentrated outside of this area with Wales, the north-east, the north-west, Scotland and Yorkshire & The Humber each being chosen by 29 per cent.

Rental growth in shop units is set to rise 1.4 per cent per annum in 2012 compared to a fall of 0.1 per cent this year and capital growth in this sector is expected to grow from minus 1.5 per cent in 2011 to a growth of 1.3 per cent next year.