Whether it is the dynamic of London spreading out to the counties or just enhanced confidence, the fact is that sentiment in the region has improved, even if tentatively. Backing this view there have been a number of significant events, including plans for a new wind turbine plant in Sheerness and a number of new development plans, such as at Kings Hill. The opening of the Turner Gallery in Margate, adding to the cultural facilities on the south coast, follows the big push by Folkestone to use arts as a platform for regeneration. This will clearly also be the theme in Margate which has been hit as hard as any UK resort by the departure of people to holidays abroad.
Promoting the arts as a vehicle for regeneration is now well established in Brighton with its annual festival but this is a city with a broad range of facilities including thriving theatres and a substantial art gallery/museum. The rise in confidence is well illustrated by Jeff East of Acorn who said: “There are genuine signs of recovery in the market and an increase in the volume of enquiries which brought strong results in our offices in the first quarter.”
He believes the professional side of the business has now become accustomed to the parameters of the current market and this has brought the rise in enquiries “across a wide variety of instructions.” Another aspect of this is that competition for properties has increased from well funded occupiers and from cash rich investors. In the case of Acorn, it has meant a good first quarter and the prospect of a stronger year than in 2010, which in itself experienced a reasonable level of business. So far, the agency has been busy with the sale of a part built development in Beckenham and a 3.75 acre industrial site in Abbey Wood for PwC as well as two Kingdom Halls for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In Sussex at East Grinstead, Acorn has handled the acquisition of a former Caffyns Vauxhall dealership for a private investor.
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