There has been some polarisation in the Thames Valley market with West London doing well while other locations have been average or below. To this should be added increased activity at Heathrow where there have been some sizeable distribution/logistics deals. Examining the proliferation of facilities around the airport, from warehouse to offices and other services, it becomes difficult to conjure up a picture of Heathrow being replaced by a location in the Thames Estuary.
The complexity of the services and facilities created over decades is considerable and there is the fact of many people living in West London and surrounding areas who have airport related employment. Another trend which is illustrated by Bracknell is that cost conscious companies will seek cheaper space and this has helped the town in 2012. In Reading the recent pattern of deals being in the centre of the town seems to have shifted in favour of business parks. Incidentally, that appears to have happened in other parts of the UK.
Broadly speaking rents have been flat apart from West London, where there have been some sizeable rises in places like Hammersmith and Chiswick. There has also been a new peak in Reading. Given the lack of speculative development and the steady take up, rents are bound to reflect the growing shortage of prime space.