Real-estate advisor Stiles Harold Williams (SHW) has reported that after a 56% decrease in the first half of 2024 for South-East industrial storage lease rentals, 2024 performed better than expected.
Overall, 2024 lease rentals in the area were down 22% on the previous year, according to SHW’s Q1 2025 Industrial & Logistics Focus.
The report states the changes to the UK government and its Autumn Budget may have caused some industry anxiety which reduced rentals.
SHW stated that over 5 million sq ft of lease events are scheduled over the next 18 months.
SHW’s Partner and Head of Agency Tim Hardwicke said: “Take up was down in 2024, which was to be expected in a year that saw a new government and a radical budget announcement.
“However, with a clearer future, interest rates stabilising, investor appetite and over 5 million sq ft of lease events scheduled across the South East over the next 18 months – recorded on SHW’s exclusive database – we expect transactions to increase this year, bringing them back up to average levels.”
