DTZ study shows global shift in appetite for office occupiers

Mega cities in China and India are tipped to become major global office occupier markets by 2017.

DTZ global head of research Hans Vrensen said the “dramatic changes” would see Chinese and Indian cities move into the advisory firm’s Top 10 ranking.

At present, US cities dominate the list, with seven cities.

Second-tier office markets stand to benefit from the change in occupier sentiment, according to DTZ.

Vrensen said second-tier cities were already challenging top-tier markets but as yet not succeeding.

Los Angeles and Chicago will be pushed out of the list in the next three years, the agent said in its global annual outlook report.

European cities do not feature in DTZ’s 2014 or 2017 lists.

Despite the change, the Americas region is the most competitive and will still lead Asia Pacific.

“The big news will be the elevation of Asia Pacific,” Vrensen said.

“Occupiers will benefit from a marked increase in the volume of affordable space.”

Shanghai, Sydney and Singapore industrial markets are all tipped to receive more investment between now and 2017.

Europe, Vrensen said, is set to become less competitive despite the availability of more affordable space.

Brussels is the Continent’s top location for occupiers in both 2014 and 2017, DTZ said.

The city is popular with foreign occupiers and consequently foreign investors.

Warsaw, Frankfurt and Amsterdam will remain top five occupier locations.

Only Dublin is tipped by DTZ to fall out of the top five locations, to be replaced by Prague.

High costs make London less accessible than other European cities, DTZ said.

The UK capital is set to lose its top spot as a global investment destination by 2017, to be replaced by New York.

The city will remain Europe’s top destination for investors, the agency said.

Vrensen said DTZ foresees a “broader mix of markets, regions and sectors” by 2017, with US cities’ collective dominance of investor appetite challenged.

DTZ, which looked at transaction values, market timing, relative value and capital market volatility, measured cities for their appeal.

By sector, DTZ said office markets dominated investor appetite – a scenario it predicts will remain in 2017, with investor destinations changing.