Thompsons have published their Commercial Property Market Review of the Year for 2009. The verdict? A largely disappointing year for Swindon's commercial property market, epitomised by the abandonment of the Regent Place Town Centre Regeneration proposal and the lack of physical progress on the Swindon College site. Take-up in Swindon's office market was almost 50% down on the previous year's transactions, whilst the industrial market showed a fall of around 30% in take-up. All speculative office and industrial/distribution developments ceased as did any new retail development, whilst the investment market recorded few transactions of any significance. In the retail sector, by the end of the year, there were over 100 shops on the market in Swindon. Whilst good news was scarce, the Bodleian Library committed to a 300,000 sq ft book store on 17 acres at Keypoint, the Union Square regeneration scheme continued to progress with a planning application for Phase I due in 2010 and early 2010 saw the start on redevelopment of part of The Parade, creating new shops for River Island, Top Shop and BHS, who temporarily relocated into the former Woolworths in Regent Street.

A copy of Thompsons' Review of the Year is available on request to post@thompsons-cpc.co.uk or telephone 01793 643101.

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