CBRE NI has reported a measured start to 2026 for Northern Ireland’s commercial property market, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty and wider external pressures. The latest figures, published in CBRE NI’s Q1 2026 Commercial Property Market Report, highlight a notable investment sector performance, with total investment volumes reaching just under £71 million in Q1 - almost double the figure...
Brian Lavery
By Brian Lavery, Managing Director, CBRE NI Whilst we often express frustration in Northern Ireland at political inactivity and its impact on economic progress, we are by no means insulated from wider geopolitical forces. Geopolitical and geographic instability have become defining influences on the global real estate market. They are fuelling uncertainty and prompting a shift in strategy, away from...
Two recent announcements from the government and Belfast City Council appear to be at odds with one another. The first came from Finance Minister John O’Dowd, who outlined his intention to require owners of vacant commercial properties in Northern Ireland to pay 100% rates. The argument behind this move is that the government will intervene and tackle major sites of dereliction in urban centres, such...
By Brian Lavery, Managing Director, CBRE NI Shopping centres have been part of our lifestyle in Northern Ireland since the 1970s, playing a critical role in the retail market and society at large. They helped create modern-day town squares sheltered from the elements and became vibrant gathering places for shopping and other entertainment experiences. Before the property crash of 2007, they were the...
By Brian Lavery, Managing Director, CBRE NI We are all aware that the Covid-19 pandemic challenged the traditional office model, with UK office occupancy currently averaging just 37% compared to 60-80% occupancy in 2019. In the years following the pandemic, many companies made the decision to downsize or redesign their offices to better suit a hybrid working environment, with many moving to more...
Leading commercial property agent CBRE NI, a member of the CBRE affiliate network, has adopted an innovative new ownership model that will ensure employees benefit fully from the future growth of the company. The business has established an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), becoming one of a growing number of Northern Ireland firms to embrace this model. Mills Selig and Maneely McCann advised on the...
By Brian Lavery, Managing Director, CBRE NI While recent commentary has had to address some of the difficulties faced by the commercial real estate market in Northern Ireland, one of the most resilient sectors throughout this period has been the out-of-town retail park market. Our latest CBRE NI research, published just last month, revealed that retail parks are strongly outperforming the broader...
Turner & Townsend announces the relocation of its Northern Ireland office to a shared space with CBRE Northern Ireland, effective 1st May 2025. Co-locating will enhance opportunities for shared client delivery, enabling closer alignment and access to leading built environment expertise under one roof. The move marks a significant milestone in the continued growth of Turner & Townsend’s...
In response to the Chancellor’s 2024 Autumn Budget, Brian Lavery, Managing Director at CBRE Northern Ireland, said: “There is no denying that the increased tax burden that the Autumn Budget has placed on businesses will present major challenges for employers and the Northern Ireland economy in general. “However, there are some positives to be gleaned, particularly the unpausing of Growth Deals...
By Brian Lavery, Managing Director, CBRE Northern Ireland As we navigate the post-pandemic landscape, the business world is experiencing a profound shift. The resounding consensus is that the full-time return to the office (RTO) is imminent, with 90 per cent of companies committed to re-establishing their physical presence by the end of 2024, as reported in a recent survey by ResumeBuilder. While...