Moving from a lack of demand to a shortage of prime space has come quickly in the three counties and will take some time to overcome.
The need now, we hear from so many agents and investors, is for more speculative building. Take a typical town in the region, Sevenoaks, which is prosperous and attractive for business and residents. Here, the residents win and offices are converted. It is a similar story everywhere; the market is distorted by government policies, which applies to industrial property as well.
The response has been more refurbishment, as in the case of Kings Hill and an example in Bromley. It has also proved to be of considerable help to Discovery Park where 100 companies are now located. Kent Science Park has also gained impetus.
In Brighton, there is the first speculative office for some years but this is a city that surely could have a bigger business community given its situation on the coast with good transport links.
For the politicians, getting more homes is all that is required. They only pay lip service to the needs of business. The picture of mainly residential occupation and little office space in many towns is not one that lends itself to a successful UK economy. Either the government changes its policies or planning authorities fight harder.