PROPERTY experts have reported a big rise in the value of commercial property investment transactions across Yorkshire.
Figures from Lambert Smith Hampton showed that the value of such deals rose to £303m in the third quarter of 2012 from £172 for the previous three months.
That represents an increase of 76% from the second quarter of 2012 and is close to the figure of £306.5m for the third quarter of 2011.
The biggest deals included Hammerson Plc’s acquisition of Victoria Quarter in Leeds for £136m, Gatehouse Bank Plc’s purchase of 115-126 Briggate in Leeds for £33.4m and Praxis Holdings’ acquisition of Crossgates Shopping Centre in Leeds for £29.5m.
The retail sector, accounting for 31.4% of total investment in the second quarter of this year, increased to 83.5% for the third month with transactions worth £235m.
The office sector, which accounted for 33% of the total market in the second quarter fell to just 5% of total investment in the third quarter at £16m while the industrial sector accounted for just 3% of the market at £10m.
Investor demand in the region remains focused on the retail sector with demand for office and industrial stock limited.
