In respect of annual figures, take up has risen to approximately 315,000 m², 25% lower, when compared to the figures from the end of 2015, a year which registered a record take up in Barcelona, 420,000 m².
While the total number of transactions, compared to the previous year, has risen by 9%, in this last trimester in more concrete terms 28% more transactions were concluded compared to the first semester of the year.
With regard to the total surface area taken up by companies, Cushman & Wakefield point out a reduction in the size of contracts, in that 10% of registered transactions came to more 1,500 m², whilst in 2015, 14% of the total corresponded to transactions of this size.
In terms of zones, 49% of space taken up during the year was recorded in the Passeig de Gràcia/Diagonal zone and in the centre of the city. Approximately 22% and 29% of take up was on the Periphery and in the Nuevas Áreas de Negocio (New Business Areas) respectively.
Maximum rents n the different zones of Barcelona are registering a certain upwards pressure in the best buildings in every area. The prime rent in Barcelona at close of year was 21.50 €/m²/month; an increase from this time last year of 8.86%.
In the opinion of Javier Bernades, partner and director of Business Space at Cushman & Wakefield Spain, “the availability of quality office space continues to decrease, provoking a short term increase in rents. It is important that future supply reacts by building new projects”.