In the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle,’ an area known for innovation and comprising London, Oxford, and Cambridge, Cambridge has experienced the largest growth in commercial property deals. In the past five years, deals have more than doubled with an increase of 108%.
Despite a nationwide decline of 20% in commercial transactions during the same timeframe, Cambridge has seen an impressive 44% growth, according to data from Search Acumen.
The city’s status as the top location for life sciences in the UK has been reinforced by significant investments in places such as the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, and Westbrook Centre.
Andrew Lloyd, the managing director of Search Acumen, commented: “Cambridge is the king when it comes to commercial property, thanks to its dynamic blend of innovation, research, and tech hubs that are attracting new investors constantly.
“Several substantial leasing deals for big spaces within the city have pushed the growth in property values to nearly 50% over five years, which is more than what Oxford, London, and the rest of the UK have seen. This impressive growth highlights the tight supply and high demand in the area.”
Oxford, Cambridge, and London are viewed as central to driving the UK’s economy forward, particularly due to their leading roles in biosciences and research.
Oxford has also experienced significant growth, with life sciences company formations jumping by 84% in 2020 during the pandemic. While 2021 saw a downturn, the city recovered with a 22% growth in 2022, though still trailing behind Cambridge’s numbers.
London’s sector has seen more ups and downs, with company formations and commercial property dealings reflecting the impact of the pandemic. Although life sciences company growth in London over the past five years stands at 96%, it had the highest number of company closures and dissolutions in 2022 among the three cities.
