18th May, 2021

Exciting Times Ahead

As the country starts to emerge from lockdown our three partners of Cornwall’s most active commercial agency - Miller Commercial - share their thoughts on how they see the commercial property sector as they look forward to an exciting year ahead….



Mike Nightingale:  "It appears that individuals and businesses have held back for the past 3 years waiting to see how the uncertainty of Brexit and more recently the Pandemic will play out. Many have used this time to take stock and plan for growth. 2021 has so far seen an unprecedented increase in enquiries across most property sectors.

Comparisons are being made with the “Roaring Twenties” of the last century which followed the great Flu Pandemic of 1918. Whilst it is too early to tell what will define the 2020’s it is widely publicised that the residential market is seeing frenzied activity as individuals relocate to the South West. This and staycations are having an impact on the commercial market. During the various lockdowns we witnessed a steady take up of secondary vacant retail stock and this is likely to continue as the High Street fights back.

Not surprisingly there have been big name casualties, however these are seen as opportunities by others and landlords have been open to the innovative ideas that we have put to them."

Nick Maffey:  "As the commercial property markets pick-up, especially within the industrial sector, our property management team are firmly focused on ensuring clients, both current and future, are best positioned to take advantage of this enhanced activity.

Having significantly outperformed national average statistics in areas such as rent collection during the pandemic we continue to invest in the service we deliver to property management clients and have recently appointed a new senior property manager with London based national property management experience who will join us in July.

Clients also benefit from our bespoke combined property management and accounts software system which allows us to electronically report and share them the enhanced performance of their assets."

Brian Botting:  "Miller Commercial enter a new era at the same time as the country emerges from the enforced lockdown. We have seen an uptick in activity across the board and in April concluded the sale of a multi-million pound development site on the Cornwall/Devon border to a local developer. More development sites are needed as we anticipate further demand over the next 12 months for both commercial and residential schemes. We are expanding our services with the appointment of a Building Surveyor in the near future with plans to push further into Devon as opportunities arise. Exciting times indeed."

For advice on buying, selling, leasing, renting or managing commercial property as well as buying and selling businesses across the South West please contact the Miller Commercial team via:  switchboard on 01872 247000 / email all@miller-commercial.co.uk