North and East Midlands top for commercial property investments

A study by specialist lender Together found that 39 per cent of landlords saw the East Midlands as the best region in which to invest.

The regions perceived as next most lucrative for property investing were the North East and North West, at 37 per cent, followed by the West Midlands at 27 per cent.

The Northern Powerhouse initiative was cited by 47 per cent of landlords and the Midlands Engine by 40 per cent saying that such programmes boosted their confidence to invest.

London was rated highly by 36 per cent of landlords, but only eight per cent were keen to invest in the South East or East Anglia.

Offices and semi-commercial

In the North, the top three development opportunities were identified as offices by 49 per cent, semi-commercial properties by 43 per cent, and for 41 per cent, flats.

In the Midlands, the best opportunities were seen as offices by 44 per cent, flats by 40 per cent and semi-commercial properties, 30 per cent.

“That underlines the need for lenders who avoid the one-size-fits-all approach and have the flexibility to agree funding within what can be very tight deadlines,” said Andrew Charnley, head of corporate relationships at Together.

The study questioned a national panel of 97 commercial landlords online during August.