Estates Gazette names KWB ‘most active office agent in West Midlands’ for 2015

Estates Gazette has released the results of their Most Active Agents competition for 2015 – and it has named KWB as the regional winner for most active office agent in West Midlands, having previously achieved the 2013 and 2012 titles.

During what has been a landmark year for the office sales and lettings in Birmingham city centre and its out-of-town markets, latest released year-end figures confirm that KWB transacted over half a million sq ft of office space, which includes a 20% percent share of the office sales and lettings in Birmingham, Solihull and the M42 corridor.

In terms of the number of transactions, their share equated to 31%, having secured 61 of the market’s total 194 transactions.

KWB Director, John Bryce, said: “This is a greatly appreciated acknowledgement of our hard work this year, in which we have secured some very important sales and lettings.  We’ve achieved this accolade twice before and it truly is a great label for us – most active office agent in West Midlands.”

• KWB achieved 37 – or 28% – of the 132 office sales and lettings in Birmingham City Centre in 2015.
• KWB has also consistently achieved a strong share of the Solihull and M42 office market transactions, securing 39% with 24 of the 62. In terms of square footage, they secured 33% with 155,697 of the total 465,275 sq ft.

The most crucial transaction that KWB secured in 2015, was the part investment purchase by Changan of the Parkside office scheme on Birmingham Business Park.  The sale, which totalled 80,000 sq ft, represented the commitment by Changan Automotive to consolidate all research and development centres for its powertrain division to create a headquarters on Birmingham Business Park.  Changan now occupies 27,000 sq ft, with the remaining properties currently spoken for by previously existing occupiers.

On regional office agents, the Estates Gazette commented: “… for all the consolidation, the picture at specific geographical level still looks healthy for the regional players.  Of 12 geographic areas that make up the UK, only six are topped by national companies, suggesting there is still plenty of room left in the market for the regional specialists who make up the backbone of the industry.”

For more information on office space in Birmingham city centre or Solihull and the M42 corridor, please contact John Bryce by calling 0121 212 5988 or email jbryce@kwboffice.com.