HomeEditorialPropertiesCareersSubscribeFeaturesDirectoryContact Us
General

Growth in Swindon
Swindon has been identified by the government as a major growth town with targets for a significant increase in population and resident workforce, and there is also a £1bn town centre regeneration programme underway. As a result Swindon Borough Council’s economic development team is pleased to announce it is ramping up its dedicated resources, marketing support, and range of business services to support companies considering relocating to the town.
Three new marketing specialists have recently been added to the team alongside the dedicated economic development professionals, whose primary function is to facilitate company moves. A new marketing communications campaign has been launched, branded ‘Make the Connection’, to promote the town’s strengths as a business location, and to raise Swindon’s profile even further to attract more companies.
Bill Cotton, director of economic development comments, “We’re serious about our investment in economic growth, and we are planning for 32,000 more jobs in Swindon in the next 20 years. Swindon’s thriving economy makes it an attractive proposition to newcomers and our increased marketing activity is already taking effect.”
Bristol’s Office Rents
Bristol is forecast to see a 6% rise in prime office rents by the end of 2007 which will place it seventh out of 14 in the UK’s prime office rents league table.
According to figures announced this week from ‘ROMP’, Knight Frank’s Regional Office Market Presentation which provides detailed

market comparisons of all the key regional UK cities from 2002 onwards, Bristol’s prime office rents are forecast to end the year 6% higher at £27.50 psf (Q1 07: £26.00 psf) which will put it ahead of Leeds, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield and Cardiff. London’s West End prime office rents are forecast to increase by 3% to £105.00 psf and London’s City office market will experience a 4% rise to £62.50 psf keeping them at the top of the table. Aberdeen and Sheffield are forecast to see the biggest increase in prime office rents of 16% of 14% respectively.
Commenting on the study of key UK office markets, Tony Nicholas of Knight Frank’s Bristol office, said: “The establishment of Bristol as one of the UK’s prime cities has contributed to a continued healthy demand for premium office space. We are seeking a particular trend for commercial waterside locations commanding higher prices. High profile developments such as the new HBOS flagship office on Bristol Harbourside and major proposed mixed-use schemes such as St Mary Le Port, Whapping Wharf and Redcliffe Wharf are all examples of highly desirable schemes taking advantage of a prime waterside location. The next phase at Temple Quay – Temple Quay II – also looks set to create a new benchmark office rental in Bristol from Burgess Salmon for the company’s new 200,000 sq ft waterfront HQ building.”
Bristol office yields in the investment market are at 5%, closing in on other large regional centres including Birmingham and Manchester which, at 4.5%, are now ahead of prime South East office yields. Both of these factors reinforce the strength of the regional office markets.