Add Category
Robust demand for premium office space reflects the ‘flight to quality’ trend, with the relatively tightly held market displaying no signs of weakening despite slowing global economic growth that is having an impact on underlying valuations.
Cementing the bifurcation trend in the office market, investors and tenants are abandoning the lower-graded properties across the Sydney and Melbourne city markets, leaving some precincts outside the core, close to empty.
Leading landlords said while values are expected to decline, there is still a desire by companies to lease offices with a preference for high-end sites that offer amenities to entice workers back to the city for longer periods of time.
Mirvac and Blackstone are selling their joint interests in 60 Margaret Street, SydneyCredit:Nic Walker
As yet, there has not been a sale of a large office block to test the valuations. The largest property on the market in Sydney is 60 Margaret Street and Met Centre, being sold by Mirvac and US private equity house Blackstone, with a price tag of about $900 million.
In new reports from Savills and Knight Frank, there is a clear message that as underlying values tumble, this push to own and or occupy a premium tower is here to stay.
According to The 2023 ‘Spotlight: Flight to Quality Report’, there is growing strength within Sydney’s premium office market, with a three-year cumulative increase in net absorption, or the increase in occupancy, totalling around 12.3 per cent of premium office stock.
“Continued robust demand for premium office space reflects the ongoing ‘flight to quality’ trend, with the relatively tightly held market displaying no signs of weakening despite slowing global economic growth, high inflation, rising interest rates and a shift in working patterns catalysed by the pandemic,” Chris Naughtin, national director, capital markets – research at Savills Australia, said.
While the report revealed the continuation of some established commercial office market trends, a new growing demand divergence between asset locations in Sydney’s CBD is defying the market conventions of the last 30 years.
“Office assets within Sydney CBD’s Midtown, Southern and Western precincts are experiencing declining net take-up, with office stock in each of these precincts displaying negative net absorption in the three years to 2022.” the Savills report said.