Big 6 Report H2 2021

Leasing across the Big 6 continued to pick-up as 2021 progressed, with each quarter recording higher take-up than the previous three month period. All markets across the Big 6 recorded better figures in H2 2021 than H1 2021 and without exception, annual leasing volumes were well ahead of 2020.

Supply increased during 2021 and was broadly driven by speculative development coming to the market during the year. In total there was 1.3 million sq ft of speculative development completed across the Big 6.

The regional investment markets have performed particularly well, with record breaking activity in 2021. Within the Big 6 city centres, office investment volumes totalled £1.1 bn in the second half of the year, which brough the annual total to £1.8bn. This is broadly in line with the long-term average, despite the slower start to the year resulting from periods of lockdown.