Central London investment volumes totalled £5.1 bn (€6 bn) in Q1 2022, the highest ever for a first quarter, according to provisional data from global real estate advisor, CBRE.
Almost three-quarters of the total investment volume, or £3.8 bn, came from just seven large transactions, all of which were launched in 2021 or earlier.
Sustainability remains a key investor focus. Two out of the three largest sales of Q1 involved recently constructed assets with very strong sustainability credentials.
The impressive start to the year was boosted by the return of Asia-Pacific investors, who accounted for 45% of the total volume, up from 17% in Q1 2021.
James Beckham, head of London Investment at CBRE, said: 'We have a positive outlook for the rest of 2022. Even with the headwinds of rising interest rates and the conflict in Ukraine, the weight of money still seeking access to the London market remains as focussed as ever and there is an ample supply of available properties to meet this demand.'
