HARRIS LAMB WELCOMES BIRMINGHAM’S POSITION AS UK’S TOP INVESTMENT PROSPECT IN EMERGING TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE REPORT

Harris Lamb has welcomed a report citing Birmingham as the top investment prospect in the UK, saying that the appetite of investors over the past year has laid firm foundations for the future.

The joint study, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2015, produced by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC, positions the city as not only the UK’s premier location for investment, but also as the sixth best in Europe, behind Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Hamburg and Athens.

Richard Fantham, director at Harris Lamb, said: “As a business with firm roots in Birmingham, we’re delighted with this news. The Midlands is often the focus of negative feedback, so it’s high time it was thrust into the spotlight for the right reasons.

“The extensive regeneration the city is undergoing makes it extremely attractive. Birmingham New Street station’s massive refurbishment paved the way for other fantastic developments: the Grand Central shopping centre with its John Lewis store, the Resorts World Birmingham leisure scheme launching this summer, and the mixed-use Paradise Circus development, which is already underway.

“This report vindicates the vibrant market in Birmingham and the Midlands at the moment and that is reflected in the enquiries and deals we are doing. The appetite of Institutional investors and occupiers alike is really strong and has been for the last 12 months or so. This trend looks like continuing with some of the large office, retail and industrial projects being planned. The publicity and positive messages that come from these sorts of comments and research really helps us, and strengthens the position of the Midlands as a whole,” he added.