Total Commercial planning activity across SA continued its upward trend in 2006, growing by nearly 12% (to over 4.3 million m²), though down on both 2005 (47%) and 2004 (21%) and at a similar growth level to that experienced in 2003. Since 2003, the office sector has enjoyed steady planning activity growth, but this has not translated into actual development growth with a drop of 45% experienced over 2006.

Almost as a complete antithesis, the retail sector is slowing down from a planning perspective (-22%), but in 2006 development activity grew by a hefty 63%. Both industrial planning and completion activity remains strong and the cycle, as reflected by the graphed completions to planning ratio, suggests that the industrial property cycle is now close to the office cycle position, with a downward retail cycle trend persisting.

For more information please contact:

Marc Schneider
eProp Researcher
Tel: +27 11 441 0111
Direct: +27 11 441 0377
Web site: www.eprop.co.za