Newcastle office market enters low yield phase: HTW
A number of positive factors are at play in the Newcastle office market according to valuation firm Herron Todd White in their April report, which puts the NSW city approaching the peak of the market position.
The January PCA Office Market Report has recorded an audited net absorption in the 12 months to January of 12,183 square metres.
This is the highest rate since 2009. The additional stock of 11,140 square metres in this time comes primarily in the form of 168 Parry Street and 18 Honeysuckle Drive.
The developer at 18 Honeysuckle Drive is prepared to double down on the success of this mixed-use development on the harbour front site across the road.
The Newcastle Herald reports that the Hunter Development Corporation’s acting general manager Valentina Misevska said the concept for the 21 Honeysuckle Drive site was designed by Sydney firm SJB Architects and comprises three buildings with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, individual townhouses and some retail activation on the ground floor. It is understood the NLA provided in the Lee Wharf Stage 4 and 5 will be circa 22,000 square metres.
Property Observer found office spaces advertised for lease at 18 Honeysuckle Drive through Colliers International. The office spaces belong to the Doma Group. The 6,500 sqm A-grade commercial office tower has four plates of approximately 1,284 sqm to choose from.
Office rents are in a relatively stable environment, with new stock and demand generally on par. We’re still seeing very strong owner-occupier interest from self managed super funds on the small to mid sized strata office market in the inner city and inner suburbs. Interest around the new Wickham transport interchange is particularly hot and values along the new light rail or where a retail outlet may be able to open out into the Honeysuckle Precinct from Hunter Street are also on a strong upward surge.
"We have now entered a stage in the local office market where we are seeing very low yields and while interest rates remain low, the market may be able to sustain these. However when we see interest rates rise, so too will the yield expectations of the market," say HTW.
"Rental growth has not kept up with capital growth in the CBD and while direct vacancy rates across the total market sit at 8.5%, with a mooted 22,000 square metres potentially hitting the market in the short term, we may see macro and micro factors combine shortly to push office values down once the market peak has been breached."