Despite a slight decline for office property in the Pays d’Aix, the market remains buoyant – Le Journal des Entreprises
The Arthur Loyd – Figuière Immobilier group has just released its 2022 barometer of office real estate in the Pays d’Aix, which includes 36 municipalities around Aix-en-Provence and brings together 51,000 companies. After a record year in 2021 in terms of office take-up, with 162,622 m², the Aix-Marseille metropolitan area fell slightly in 2022, to 159,292 m². However, it remains in the top 3 metropolises outside Île-de-France, after Lyon and Lille.
In the Pays d’Aix, which represents 35% of the metropolitan market, take-up for offices fell by 9% in 2022, to 56,352 m², below the average of the last four years, which is 58 653 m². “We can note that the number of transactions is up (173 in 2022, against 165 in 2021) for a drop in take-up, which confirms the appetite of users for small and medium-sized surfaces, a trend that was already emerging in 2021”, we confide at Figuière Immobilier. The average surface area placed is in fact down from 373 m² in 2021 to 325 m² in 2022. The Aix-en-Provence La Duranne Business Park, which covers more than 600 hectares at West of the city center represents nearly 51% of transactions in terms of surface area. However, Aix-Est represented a quarter of exchanges in 2022, compared to 10% in 2021, boosted by two major operations (7,334 m²) which took place on the Arteparc office complex in Meyreuil.
New stock down 17%
Of the 56,352 m² of take-up made in 2022, the share of rentals fell slightly, even if the volume of rentals still represents 67% of the whole, for three quarters carried out in second-hand premises. Sales, meanwhile, have increased and take place in 55% of cases in new premises. The overall stock immediately available in the Pays d’Aix amounts to 87,345 m², the stock of new buildings having decreased by 17% compared to 2021. “The market is under tension because the latest generation offices are highly sought after, for their comfort, their energy efficiency and their improvement in the quality of life at work. However, the stock beyond 18 months amounts to approximately 100,000 m²”, tempers the study. The future programs are mainly located in the center of Aix-en-Provence and in the business park.
For 2023, demand in the Pays d’Aix territory, driven by dynamic companies, should remain strong. “The first two months of the year have started with good momentum and the immediate new supply is gradually unblocking and should thus allow the market to relax”, concludes the barometer. However, of course, the global geopolitical situation can still slow the rebound due to the tightening of financing conditions, inflation or the increase in the cost of materials and energy which penalizes construction.
