By Lucy Lord
Partner
Howes Percival
THE recent lunch hosted by the Howes Percival commercial property team, and featured in last month’s Business Times, brought into sharp focus the key issues which need to be addressed if the county is to continue to be a place where developers can thrive and invest their time and resources into developments which will add real value to our economy.
Part of what makes Northamptonshire an attractive place to invest in is the range and quality of professional help which is available ‘on patch’. We believe that Northamptonshire can be justly proud of the scope and quality of professional help which is here and on tap.
Our commercial property team continues to be busy with no signs of let-up despite the uncertainties of a looming Brexit. Instructions for the sale and acquisition of development land along with subsequent estate set-ups remain high, particularly for residential development, thanks to the Government’s increased target for more new homes in the coming years. Instructions on lettings, acting for both landlords and tenants, are equally buoyant. We are seeing an increase in occupiers committing to long-term lettings and lease renewals; a real sign of confidence in the market. This strength in the letting market also shows a strong commitment from local businesses to the Northamptonshire area, with our property team at the forefront of this trend in co-operation with other professionals.
The team’s specialism in secured lending and property finance has also resulted in instructions on a number of high-value property portfolios re-finances for several local clients in 2018. We continue to maintain existing, and establish new, relationships with lenders in the region and our position as a panel firm for HSBC Bank plc, National Westminster Bank plc, Santander UK plc and Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ), among others
In the residential market, our residential conveyancing team has an established plot sales service for our developer clients and continues to act for individuals seeking a first rate residential conveyancing service.
The challenge for planners, developers and funders for the years ahead is around the availability of good new quality offices. Existing office occupiers have a lack of stock for relocation and there is nothing available to attract new occupiers into the county. This is unlikely to be addressed until the new unitary authorities have taken over.
Contact Howes Percival on 01604 230400 or visit www.howespercival.com