OUTLOOK October 2007

An e-newsletter covering Industrial, Commercial & Retail Property, in North Oxfordshire, North Gloucestershire, South Northants and South Warwickshire.  Published by BANKIER SLOAN CHARTERED SURVEYORS.

REGIONAL PROPERTY HELP LINE: 01869 338866

Acquisitions: Sales: Lettings: Lease Renewals: Rent Reviews: Planning: Rating: Management

Please "forward" to any friends or colleagues you think may be interested and hopefully they will reply directly to us saying "YES PLEASE" and we'll add them to our register. Our e-mail address is reception@centre-p.co.uk

^{Investment/Development Opportunity Central Banbury: £400,000 doesn't get you very much, but we think this is a very exciting opportunity. It is an existing industrial property, close to Banbury Town Centre, with potential for residential development. We just know lots of people will be interested in this. We have no plans to openly advertise the site, but knowing the marketing power of OUTLOOK we are sure we will get lots of interest. If you would like some preliminary details please reply by e-mail to reception@centre-p.co.uk, writing the words "Central Banbury" in the subject box and we will forward to you whatever information we have available.}

^{Property Requirements: As many of you will appreciate having read OUTLOOK over the years, we are very pro-active in attempting to acquire property on behalf of retained clients. In addition to the on-going investment requirements which we have, no doubt like many other Chartered Surveyors have across the UK, we would like to promote to you in this issue two particular requirements that need your immediate attention. One is for a professional practise which we promoted in our September issue, which needs to be close to Banbury Town Centre, and having a total floor area in the region of 4,000 sq ft. As a result of our "failure" to find a suitable site (or more likely the fact that a site does not exist at the present time), our area of search has extended slightly further and we are now prepared to consider any site within a mile of Banbury Town Centre. We confirm that we are fully retained and are prepared to look at either leasehold or freehold property. Please note we require at least eight parking spaces with the property.}

A new requirement this month from a retained client is for a site suitable for up to eight HGV trailers. We would like this to be within a ten mile radius of Banbury, and if possible on the north side, although all sites will be considered. Freehold is our client's prefered option, leasehold however will be considered as we are fully aware that this requirement may well be very difficult to meet.

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Centrepoint Deddington: We have some excellent serviced offices at Centrepoint, Deddington, which we are promoting on behalf of our clients. These are available for as little as £70 per week, including furniture, heating, lighting and reception services, and are ideal for one, two, or three people. We have over the years enjoyed providing offices for local, regional, and international companies, and if you are looking for any representation in North Oxfordshire please do not hesitate to make contact, or view the Centrepoint page on our website at http://www.centre-p.co.uk/pdfs/Secretarial&Centrepoint%20leaflet(Sept07)(2).pdf.

Industrial Property...empty rates relief...is on it's way out...be warned! The government are undertaking a consultation excercise but this is surely only to consider the problems of a very few!  The main point is that from 1st April 2008 you will pay FULL RATES on all empty industrial property... the proposal is intended to encourage owners to let properties and not hold out for a high rent!  If your property has a RV of less than say £15,000 and you could split it, consider doing so....remember properties with an RV of less than £5,000 will we think still be liable for 50% relief on the actual rates payable..so if it's going to be empty,  spending some money this tax year may help you next year.  There is still a six month "Free" period from the day your property becomes empty but this does not start on 1st April  2008 if your property is already empty, it will start from the date when you first claimed void rates... If you need some advise please call Ian Sloan on 01869-338866 or e-mail reception@centre-p.co.uk and just write "Rates" in the Subject Box . We are compiling some notes on the subject which may be helpful .  There are a number of web sites with general information on this new proposal, here are just a couple http://www.voa.gov.uk/business_rates/empty_property_rates_changes.htm http://www.rics.org/Property/Commercialproperty/Commercialpropertytaxation/RICSviewemptypropertyraterelief.html

Moreton-in-Marsh :  Excellent 2,900 sq ft workshop unit,  ideal for small or regional companies. Available on three or six year leases as from 1st November. We anticipate the rent being in the region of £16,000 pa. (£5.50 /sq ft p.a). To view please telephone 01608-652888.

Estates Gazette Readers :  If you read the weekly property magazine the Estates Gazette, you may be interested in our special web page at http://www.centre-p.co.uk/estates%20gazette.htm

Brown Field Site - Aynho: We thank those who enquired as a result of us promoting this in our last issue. The planning process continues to move on,  and we do hope that by the end of October we will have planning and will therefore come back to those who showed interest. This is the site where my clients have applied for four detached 1,000 sq ft residential units on an existing haulage yard, and we will be prepared to consider either a freehold sale or a joint venture with a suitable partner. If interested please send an e-mail to reception@centre-p.co.uk, writing the words "Aynho Resi" in the subject box, sending your full postal address, and we will let you have a copy of the plans.

^{Solitcitors: I received an e-mail following my last story about solicitors, from a solicitor protesting that I tell too many stories about his profession.....sorry.!!}

Open Day:    Please come along to our Deddington offices on Wednesday 17th October...free coffee, wine, food and good company.  If you want a formal invite please e-mail reception@centre-p.co.uk  and just tell us you haven't received your invite yet !

Art Gallery  Moreton-in-Marsh.  What we believe is the largest art gallery in the region is about to open on the Fosseway Business Park and we have some great office accommodation (approx 800 sq ft) immediatly adjacent to this gallery which we are offering at £10 / sq ft per annum...see http://www.centre-p.co.uk/pdfs/Moreton-in-Marsh%20-%20Fosseway%20Business%20Park%20-%20Office.pdf

Excellent workshop Banbury : Ground Floor 1,600 sq ft.  400sq ft first floor offices. Now available on a new lease. This is a great little unit on one of Banbury's most popular industrial estates see http://www.centre-p.co.uk/pdfs/Thorpe%20Mead.pdf

Google :  Yes, our property web-site covering North Oxfordshire and the South Midlands really is one of the most visited...try looking for property by searching for "Industrial Property Banbury",  "Industrial Premises Banbury",  or "Retail Property Moreton-in-Marsh"......we know lots of people enquire via the major Search Engines...so if you have a property to sell or let please consider using the most visited site in the area...www.centre-p.co.uk

Agricultural Premises, Change of Use/Planning Applications:  We have considerable experience of obtaining planning permission for farmers and others who own premises in rural locations, who may be seeking a change of use to B1 (light industrial) from tradional agricultural use. If you require professional advice please do not hesitate to contact Ian Sloan at our Deddington office.

Calthorpe Street, Retail Property:   This is a great retail unit, nearly ready for occupation in a good secondary location in Banbury town centre:  http://www.centre-p.co.uk/pdfs/Calthorpe%20Street,%20Banbury.pdf  viewing is now possibly as the builders have very nearly finished.  

^{Edited by Ian B Sloan FRICS – 1st October 2007}

^{Deddington 01869 338866   -  Brackley 01280 700756}

^{Moreton-in-Marsh 01608 652888  - Coventry 02476 545556}

^{BANKIER SLOAN}

^{The longest established Chartered Surveyors in the region dealing exclusively with Industrial, Commercial & Retail Property. North Oxfordshire, North Gloucestershire, South Northants and South Warwickshire}