The cost of car parking, urban congestion, and the growing number of small town centre offices being converted to residential use is driving many companies to consider relocating to more rural premises, according to one property consultant.
It’s a nationwide trend being reported by almost every commercial agent, but one southern county is proving particularly popular with small and medium-sized businesses opting for a rural base. Between January and April office and commercial premises near agricultural land made up just under half of the 58,000sq ft of space handled by one chartered surveyor’s Kent office.
Among the deals finalised by Smiths Gore’s Kings Hill consultancy were the leasing of a 2,323sq ft barn in East Malling to landscape design consultancy Murdoch Wickham and 940sq ft space at Lakeview Stables, on the St Cere Estate near Sevenoaks, to Communication Design Partnership, a media company specialising in construction.
“During the recession many companies inevitably downsized and took on smaller premises,” explained Smiths Gore chartered surveyor Lucy Winzer, who has witnessed the demand for rural office suites between 800sq ft and 2,000sq ft steadily increase since the new year.
It is now clear that with the economy returning to growth, and companies recruiting, many south-eastern businesses are looking for larger premises. “Rural locations, especially those served by a good broadband service, close to local shops and with good road connections, are proving very popular,” she added.
And, as the market grows, Smiths Gore — which has 48 offices across the UK — believes that many farmers and estate owners will consider converting existing premises to office accommodation.
The consultancy’s owner is surveyor Michael Wooldridge. “With demand high, and with it being easier to secure planning approval to convert redundant agricultural buildings into commercial uses, property owners are now well placed to explore this option as a means of making buildings more economically viable,” he said.
