Weathering a perfect storm in Commercial Property Service Charges

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As per the SCSI / RICS Code of Practice definitions, service charges in commercial property enable an owner to recover the costs of servicing and operating a property. This is for the benefit of the occupiers and users of the services and facilities provided within the property.

The service charge arrangement is dictated by the lease of the property and presents what responsibilities fall to the service charge regime and what responsibilities fall to the occupier.

One of the key roles of the Bannon Property Management team is compiling the annual service charge budgets for the assets under our management.  When doing this work, we are conscious of the impact service charge regimes have on occupiers and owners. If the budget is set too low, cashflow issues arise that affect the smooth operation of the asset. This can lead to a deterioration of the asset which will have numerous implications for users, occupiers and owners.  Alternatively set the budget too high and this impacts on the viability of occupiers to pay and ability to let units.

Having a high service charge per square foot also has an impact on the rental rates the owner can achieve. This in turn negatively impacts the asset value. Therefore, it is paramount that property managers are constantly reviewing, and tracking service charge spend. This is easier said than done.

When setting the 2022 service charge budgets in Q4 2021 no surveyor could have predicted the war in Ukraine and the subsequent disruption this would create in the world economy. It is hard to believe that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the increase occupational costs for occupiers in Irish commercial assets!

Given the increase in operational costs worldwide since January 2022, most Irish commercial assets with service charge liabilities are looking at a balancing charge at the end of the year. This is when annual service charge expenditure has exceeded the annual budgeted figure. This is due to service charge budgets being set before an escalation of the War and subsequent impact on the global economy.

The current landscape is substantially different to when we were setting 2022 service charge budgets. With the ongoing energy crisis and global economic conditions, setting 2023 service charge budgets will be more challenging than ever. Significant increases in energy costs coupled with construction costs increasing by 14% over the past 12 months according to the SCSI’s construction cost index (July 21-June 22) have created these challenges. The addition of ERO (Employment Regulation Order) increased hourly rates for cleaning and security professionals, combined with these challenges, means that we are dealing with a perfect storm.

it is imperative that the property manager strikes a balance between having a sustainable and affordable service charge budget, but to also ensure there are funds to maintain the common areas.

This is a fine balance and Bannon predicts service charge regimes will increase significantly in 2023. This will lead to hard choices for asset managers and owners. As market leaders, Irish-owned Bannon manages multiple commercial assets including shopping centres, retail parks and offices throughout Ireland. We have significant experience in setting and managing service charge budgets, helping our clients find this balance.

 

Author:                 William Lambe, Divisional Director, Bannon 

Date:                     5th October 2022

Embodied Carbon

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Embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with all the activities of procuring, mining and harvesting raw materials.  It includes transforming these materials into construction products, transporting them to site and incorporating them into a building. Subsequently, it includes maintaining, replacing, removing and disposing at the end of their life. Essentially embodied carbon is built into the fabric of a building. 

Eleven percent of global emissions are associated with embodied carbon emissions from new construction. With the introduction of the revised Nearly Zero Energy standard, NZEB, through Part L of the building regulations in 2019 for both residential and commercial buildings, the upfront embodied carbon now represents a much greater part of the whole life cycle carbon of the building. 

Over the last 6 years development of Grade A office schemes has accelerated in the capital, with 7.8 million sq.ft of Grade A offices delivered to date. The majority of these buildings have been world class in terms of their sustainable and environmental credentials. This has attracted international blue-chip tenants and commanded prime rents. Importantly, these assets have performed particularly well when transacted and have appealed to numerous investors, with several new entrants emerging into the Dublin capital markets sector over the period. Prime top-tier office investment yields have continued to perform well with yield levels being sustained through the covid 19 pandemic, highlighting the demand for this type of product.  

Companies are setting ambitious ESG goals with increasing pressure to report on activity. The onus will be on fund managers, financial advisors, asset managers and all participants within the financial markets to disclose all information on ESG issues. There will be additional requirements for products that promote ESG characteristics and have sustainable investment objectives. Therefore, the emphasis on portfolio performance will be key for these stakeholders. The quality of the assets held will continue to be critical. 

Whilst new Grade A schemes grab the headlines, there is over 45m sq.ft. of office stock in the Dublin market across various asset classes. Older stock continues to perform, particularly in the CBD where the reduced rent payable in parallel with prime location appeals to some occupiers. There is, however, a lifespan to these schemes, particularly in light of new regulations. Therefore, the owner must consider the proposition in terms of future decreasing value, occupier appeal, performance and the asset becoming environmentally stranded. 

A ‘stranded asset’ relates to a building where the cost of bringing it into line with current and future environmental standards is not justified in the context of the value once the works are completed. Embodied carbon may create an opportunity for environmentally stranded assets. As the cost of carbon and consequently new building increases, the value of the embodied carbon within existing assets may rescue the value of some assets currently perceived to be stranded. 

There will be huge opportunity for those with the skills to efficiently transition these buildings back to the institutional mainstream. In this regard valuing and selling these assets will require an in-depth analysis of the true costs associated with bringing them up to standard. Bannon is actively carrying out these exercises for a number of clients through our sustainability business Evia – Sustainable Facility Services.

 

Authors:                 Cillian O’Reilly, Surveyor, Sustainability Manager, Bannon / Lucy Connolly, Divisional Director, Bannon

Date:                     5th October 2022

Sustainable Transport

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Transport is the number one contributor to the Bannon carbon footprint. The scale of our extensive nationwide portfolio means that staff accumulate a significant number of kilometres traveling to meetings, site visits and commuting to the office.

Our Sustainability Subcommittee actively promotes the use of sustainable transport options. Dublin City Council bikes, electric scooters, the bike to work scheme and tax saver public transport tickets are all made available to the Bannon team. And it starts at the top! Managing Director Paul Doyle and Executive Chairman Neil Bannon are regularly spotted leading the charge around Dublin city.

EXPO REAL (Messe München) 2022

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Neil Bannon and Roderick Nowlan back on the conference circuit again. Great to be back at EXPO REAL (Messe München) and we look forward to seeing you there!

Sustainability at Bannon

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As Ireland’s largest domestically owned Commercial Property Consultancy, Bannon is a market leader in all aspects of commercial real estate, including environmental sustainability. The firm’s Environmental Management System is certified in line with ISO 14001:2015 standards by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. This system has been integrated with Bannon’s ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System to best serve the Owners, Investors and Occupiers that the firm interacts with on a daily basis.

Our Environmental and Sustainability Policy, covers a range of topics within the office and across the client portfolio. The implementation of the policy is monitored by the firm’s Sustainability Subcommittee which is made up of team members from across the firm and co-ordinated by Bannon’s Sustainability Manager, Cillian O’Reilly.

From replacement of plastic bottled water and takeaway coffee cups with reusable alternatives to moving our entire Property Management portfolio to renewable energy sources, everyone at Bannon is committed to our environmental agenda. We know that “no matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem, if we do it well, it may soon become the step that will lead us to better things”.

To read our Environmental and Sustainability Policy to find out how we achieve sustainability for clients and the firm in a meaningful way, click here.

 

Bannon Retail Pulse Report – September 2022

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Bannon’s latest monthly Retail Pulse has now gone live. In this publication Neil Bannon shares some insights into the ongoing decline of online fast fashion retailers and Darren Peavoy focuses on the rebound in footfall levels which has been seen in Dublin City Centre.

To view the full report, please click here.

EXPO REAL (Messe München) 2022

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Great to get back to Munich again for  (4-6th Oct).

Get in touch for a chat with Neil Bannon and Roderick Nowlan on Irish Real Estate Opportunities and the impact of ESG on the Irish market.

Irish Consumer Sentiment

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Predictably Irish Consumer Sentiment has dropped significantly in the face of an onslaught bad news; interest rates up, cost of living crisis, energy bills and the ongoing War in Ukraine. What will be interesting to watch is how this drop in sentiment manifests itself in retail sales.

To date year on year retail sales have held up well. Expect to see a divergence in performance across the retail sector as consumers prioritise certain spend categories over others. Sectors which are particularly sensitive to energy costs and and are in the highly discretionary spend segments will likely suffer the greatest squeeze whilst need based spending should hold up well based on strong demographics.

Revaluation 2023

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Revaluation 2023 is about to get underway in earnest with Proposed Valuation Certificates due to issue to ratepayers in the coming days.

Bannon has significant expertise in achieving substantial savings on behalf of ratepayers across the full spectrum of commercial real estate.

Penneys is now open in The Square Tallaght

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It is our pleasure to welcome Penneys to The Square Tallaght today. The addition of Penneys is a milestone moment in the history of the Centre.

In the past number of months, we have welcomed a number of new occupiers to the Centre, including a new state of the art cinema. The Penneys opening is another significant investment into the Centre and we wish them every success.

Congratulations to our Bannon team, asset managers Sigma Retail Partners, facilities consultants Evia – Sustainable Facility Services, the centre management team at The Square Tallaght and all who have contributed towards the project.

The Proven Resilience of Ireland’s Community Shopping Centres

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What is a Community Shopping Centre? 

Community Shopping Centres are characterised by a large supermarket anchor usually occupying over 50% of the scheme’s floor area. The balance of occupiers is typically complimentary or ancillary to the grocery offer, providing daily and weekly convenience needs to serve the local catchment such as butcher, pharmacy, coffee shop etc. These offers typically include local services, food & beverage, and high-frequency of purchase, low-cost retail products. While fashion offers may be included, these will generally be dependent on the catchment and competitive environment. Community Shopping Centres do not have the quantum of space compared to larger schemes to support a destination comparison or fashion led retail experience. 

How did COVID impact on these centres? 

The impact of COVID retail trading restrictions had different effects on footfall levels between shopping centre categories. The prevalence of essential retail uses within Community Shopping Centres meant the impact was relatively minor.  Footfall levels stayed at 80% of pre COVID levels in 2019 and turnover, in many cases, increased as physical retail spend was funnelled into essential services and products only. Comparison led schemes by contrast saw a drop of 40% of footfall during the same period. While the dominance of essential retail in Community Shopping Centres served to preserve footfall during trading restrictions, there has been a significant recovery of footfall over the last twelve months. Footfall levels in Community Shopping Centres are now back to 93% of 2019 levels. 

How will the increase in the cost-of-living impact these centres? 

During periods of recession and high rates of inflation, households still require essential goods and services. An increase in the cost of goods or a decrease in available income will see a larger portion of household expenditure directed towards the purchases of these goods. The net effect is that there is less available spend for want and luxury type goods. As the retail offer in Community Shopping Centres is generally need-focused, these centres are well positioned to perform relatively well and maintain occupier sustainability in difficult market conditions. The reliance on local catchments with short journey times also bodes well for these centres as the increased cost of fuel feeds into decision making for shoppers.

The need-focused nature of many typical Community Shopping Centre occupiers positions this category of centre to hedge against inflationary or recessionary shifts in the retail property market.  

 

Author:                 George Colyer, Surveyor, Bannon

Date:                     14th September 2022

Bannon Retail Pulse Report – August 2022

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Bannon’s latest monthly Retail Pulse has now gone live. Our focus in this publication is on New Developments, where we identify a number of new retail schemes due for completion in the next 24 months. On our footfall monitor more positive trends feature with High Street footfall, by example, showing a 25% increase year on year.

To view the full report, please click here.

Dragons at the Docks 2022

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Bannon are delighted to take part in this years Dragons at the Docks boat race today in aid of the Dublin Simon Community.

Wishing our team the very best of luck on the water!

Pret A Manger is now open on Dawson Street, Dublin 2

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Pret A Manger opened their first store in Ireland on Friday. Located on Dawson Street, Dublin 2 the store had a busy morning and we managed to visit between that and the lunchtime rush to get a full tour. The Pret a Manger team are so impressive in terms of their approach to quality and attention to detail.

This will no doubt be a great success and we are proud to be part of the team bringing the brand to Ireland.

Bannon Partnership with TÜV SÜD for Best-in-Class Vertical Transportation Systems

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As market leaders, Irish- owned Bannon manages over 75 commercial assets including shopping centres, retail parks and offices with a combined footfall of over 100 million visitors per annum. Given the level of footfall through the assets under our management, we prioritise the safety and efficiency of all plant and equipment. One area that we give significant attention to is vertical transportation equipment.

Vertical transportation refers to different types of equipment used to move building users between different levels of a building. Examples from our portfolio include passenger lifts, goods lifts, escalators, passenger conveyors and disabled access platforms in both retail and office settings.

Due to the essential nature and complexity of vertical transportation systems, Bannon engages TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman as specialist consultants. TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman is Europe’s leading independent lift & escalator consultancy, and they currently support over 18,000 lift units across Europe. Our partnership and collaboration with the firm dates back several years.

The Bannon management portfolio includes over 205 individual vertical transportation units. We utilise 10 different lift contractors to maintain and repair the units on our clients’ behalf. TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman helps us ensure that we are getting best performance and efficiencies from our assets which are serviced by our lift maintenance contractors, thus providing value for money.

TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman offer a full range of services including design, asset management, maintenance management support, condition reporting, project management, witness testing and expert witness.

Within the maintenance management services Tuv Sud review and process statutory inspection reports ensuring completion of all items under the terms of the maintenance contract and obtain quotations for any works that are deemed out of the contact scope.

One of the main roles performed by TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman is completing competitive tenders for maintenance contracts and modernisation or complete replacement of this equipment. In addition to tendering and putting contracts in place, they also manage our maintenance contracts. This includes sign off and review quotations for repair works to the equipment which fall outside the scope of the maintenance contract, process statutory inspection reports ensuring completion of all items under the terms of the maintenance contract.

At Bannon our culture is to provide best-in-class service to our clients and users across our portfolio. We achieve this by collaborating with industry leaders and partners such as TÜV SÜD Dunbar Boardman to provide service delivery levels that will ensure quality, compliance, cost awareness and safety to our lift users.

 

Author:                 William Lambe, Divisional Director, Bannon

Date:                     23rd August 2022

Techstar in Castlewest Shopping Centre, Ballincollig, Cork

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Congratulations to Techstar in Castlewest Shopping Centre, Ballincollig, Cork on making the list of the top 100 friendliest stores to visit in 2022 awarded by Retail Excellence Ireland and now move on to the National Awards to be held in the Galmont Hotel Galway on the 12th November.

Great to have one of our new occupiers achieve this.

To view the list, please click here.

Babydoll Vintage Clothing is now open in Stephens Green Shopping Centre.

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Bannon is delighted to welcome Babydoll Vintage Clothing to Stephens Green Shopping Centre.

We wish the team the very best of luck with the opening.

Lego is now open on Grafton Street

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An iconic brand for an iconic street. It’s brilliant to see LEGO open their first Irish store on Grafton Street. Well done to the team who made this happen, our clients Irish Life and our joint agents Savills Ireland.

 

We haven’t seen so much activity on the street as in recent months, with a further 4 new stores currently being fitted out, defining Grafton Street as a world class shopping destination.

Retail Sales vs Consumer Confidence

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August recorded a small but continuing drop in consumer confidence, to a 22-month low, as households prepare themselves for further price pressures according to KBC Bank Ireland. What is interesting is the mismatch between what Irish consumers are saying and what they are doing.

Retail sales which traditionally track consumer confidence with a short lag period, have remained robust and in recent times even grown whilst confidence has dropped.

Thérapie Clinic is now open at Marshes Shopping Centre

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Another fantastic addition to the Tenant mix at Marshes Shopping Centre diversifying and complementing the existing offer.

Best of luck Thérapie Clinic.

Office Market Commentary Q2 2022

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The Bannon Dublin Office Market report is available now. Take up for the second quarter of the year reached 511,549 sq.ft. across 61 transactions, bringing the year to date figure to just over 1,000,000 sq.ft. A substantial increase on the same period last year, when just 232,523 sq.ft. of take up was recorded.

Market sentiment is improving quarter on quarter as demonstrated by an increase in take up and occupier demand, with over 1,300,000 sq.ft. currently reserved.

To view the full report, please click here.

Bannon volunteer with Alone Ireland

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The Bannon team were delighted to volunteer their day yesterday to Alone.

Making a difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness or who are in need of assisted housing over the age of 60 all across Ireland has been extremely rewarding for all involved.

The Warehouse Gym opens in Gateway Shopping Park, Co. Galway

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Bannon welcomes The Warehouse Gym to Gateway Shopping Park, Knocknacarra, Co Galway.

The Warehouse Gym is a great addition to the shopping park and no expense was spared in its development.

2022 Nexus Soccer Tournament event

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The Bannon team took part in the Nexus 5-A Side Soccer Tournament held by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland on Friday evening.

It was a great event for all involved and we are looking forward to the next one!

Bannon Retail Pulse Report – July 2022

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The Bannon Retail Pulse July 2022 issue is now available. This month, our Executive Chairman Neil Bannon focuses on the juxtaposition between robust economic statistics and a persistently negative narrative. Read Neil’s commentary ‘The Most Depressing Boom’ on page 4.

To view the full report, please click here.

Investment Market Commentary Q2 2022 – July 2022

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The H1 Bannon capital markets report is out now and worth a read as Roderick Nowlan feels certain sectors are passing an inflection point….

To view the full report, please click 

At a Glance: Investment Market Q2 2022

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Strong outturn for H1 in the Irish CRE sector with total turnover breaking €3bn with the benefit of a €1.1Bn Hibernia REIT deal.

At a Glance: Office Market Q2 2022

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Take up for Q2 was largely on par with Q1 of this year with 511,549 sq.ft. of office accommodation transacting across 61 deals, bringing the YTD take up figure to just over 1 million sq.ft. Whilst not back to pre-covid levels, demand in the marketplace continues with over 1.3 million sq.ft. currently reserved.

2nd Floor, IFSC House, Dublin 1

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2nd Floor, IFSC House, Dublin 1 – IFSC House is a high-profile landmark building with stunning river views, offering a prominent corporate HQ opportunity in the centre of Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre. Extending to over 22,200 sq.ft. the 2nd floor office is available now by way of Sub-Lease or Assignment.

For further information contact Lucy Connolly or Ros Tierney on 01-6477900.

2022 Nexus Rugby event

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The Bannon team took part in the Nexus tag rugby event held by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland on Thursday evening.

It was great to see so many companies across the industry join the game. A fantastic time was had by all.

Thurles Shopping Centre 25th Anniversary

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Wildflowers in full bloom at Thurles Shopping Centre ahead of the centre celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary this weekend, Saturday 25th June.

Thurles Shopping Centre have a Family Fun day planned, with Beat FM broadcasting on site for the afternoon along with Willy Wonka, magic shows and fun and games for all the family.

Mullingar religious lands with residential potential guiding at €2.75m

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The combination of current and expected future demand for housing in Dublin’s commuter belt counties should see strong interest from investors and developers in the sale of a 12-acre land holding in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

The lands, on the Dublin Road and just 700m from Mullingar town centre, are being offered to the market by joint agents Bannon and James L Murtagh & Sons on behalf of St Finian’s Diocesan Trust at a guide price of €2.75 million.

The subject holding surrounds the diocesan office, which the trust is retaining for its continued use, and is distributed across two parcels of land extending to a combined area of about 4.85 hectares (12 acres). The entire holding is zoned “Proposed Residential” in the Mullingar Local Area Plan 2014–2020 (as extended). An architectural feasibility study prepared by Altu Architects indicates potential (subject to planning consent) for the development of a housing scheme of about 116 units, comprising 27 two-bedroom houses, 35 three-bedroom houses and 54 four-bedroom houses.

While the lands have a sylvan setting adjoining St Paul’s Catholic Church, St Colman’s National School and Clonard House, they are near all the amenities of Mullingar.

Mullingar is a well-established commuter town and sits about 80km or a one-hour drive from Dublin via the N4 and M4 motorway. The town is also served by mainline rail services.

Niall Brereton of Bannon says: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire a development site in one of the most desirable residential locations within the Dublin commuter belt. Mullingar is a highly accessible town given its proximity to the N4 as well as Mullingar train station offering daily services to and from Dublin city centre. The subject land has terrific development potential, subject to planning permission, and will appeal to developers seeking opportunities to deliver new housing units in an area of high demand.”

Article by The Irish Times

Bannon Retail Pulse Report – June 2022

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Our June 2022 Bannon Retail Pulse is now available. This month, as well as keeping track on our indicators which continue to improve, we focus on Grafton Street. We forecast that current vacancy is likely to drop significantly as 2022 progresses with a further enhancement of the mix and offerings on our premier retail street.

To view the full report, please click here.

Gorey Shopping Centre

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Managing 25% of Ireland’s Shopping Centres, our Property Management team is very proud of the scale and reach of our growing portfolio. On an ongoing basis, Bannon engages with various contractors to optimise user experience and maintain the appearance and accessibility across our retail portfolio. One such example is Gorey Shopping Centre.

A big thank you to everyone involved in recent projects, namely Arkomax (Refurbishment of Public Toilets & Installation of Parent & Child Facilities) and Breffni Group (Car Park Works). Also, a big thank you to the ever committed Niamh O’Byrne (Gorey Shopping Centre – Centre Manager).

TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More!

Retail Property – One Size Does Not Fit All

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The challenges faced by retail and the effects on performance metrics against the various Covid trading restrictions, have triggered the need to reconsider how retail assets should be categorised and considered. ‘Retail asset’ is a broad, all-encompassing term used to capture Shopping Centres, Retail Parks and High Street/Main Street Shopping. At Bannon, we have extensive data and performance metrics across these retail asset types. This information demands a rethink on how we talk about the sector. While property is inherently heterogenous, with each asset having its own idiosyncrasies, we can refine asset types based on shared and similar characteristics, which overall, relate to the role and function these assets play in their local catchment and community. 

How various retail assets have reacted to and been affected by the restricted retail trading conditions that began in early 2020, have driven the need to re-categorise these assets. Areas considered include their ability to perform their function, the extent to which they remain functional against changes in market conditions and the characteristics of each scheme. This has provided a more focused approach that can be used to better inform sustainable tenant mixes and pricing analysis.  It is through our ability to combine analysis with Bannon’s unique data insights, that we endeavour to display thought leadership in the commercial property market. Based on this, Bannon will release articles on Community Shopping Centres, Retail Parks and Shopping Parks and High Streets that discuss the drivers that shape and influence key areas. They include their footfall, the opportunities and challenges their occupier mix face against emerging market trends and the role and function of these asset types within the market. 

Watch out for this series of articles over the summer.

 

Author:               George Colyer, Surveyor, Bannon

Date:                   20th June 2022

Bannon – The Conduit to A Seamless Acquisition Strategy

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The Bannon Retail team is acquiring stores on behalf of national and international retailers with a variety of use categories including Card Factory, Lush, Pret A Manager, Eason, Jump Juice Bars, Matt Britton, McCabes Pharmacy, Tuthills, Gino’s and L’Ombre Hair & Beauty.  As part of our work, we advise them on their rollout strategy across Ireland.

On meeting a potential acquisition client, we study the retailer to understand their brand placement and their customer profile. This together with other research allows us to accurately assess where best to locate them.

We secured the acquisition instruction for Smiggle (the Australian go to brand for school, lifestyle and stationery products) and by way of a sample case study we set out below the service provided and our contribution to a successful store roll out.

 

The Brief:

On successfully pitching our acquisition services, our brief from Smiggle was to provide a full service in identifying new store locations and negotiating lease terms on their behalf.

Stage 1:

Smiggle was a new entrant to Ireland.  We began by educating them on the current economic climate, the retail market within Ireland and the retail hierarchy across the country. Leasing structures in Australia are quite different to those commonly used in Ireland.  We prepared a detailed presentation on the standard leasing terms in Ireland to include lease length, owner and occupier renewal rights, upwards downwards rent reviews, break options and sub-letting terms. We also assisted them in securing a legal team to represent the company in Ireland.

Stage 2:

Understanding the retailer’s model, we used our expertise to advise where their initial focus should be placed for unit acquisition. We completed a table of target locations and collated an individual pack on each detailing footfall, scheme size, current retailers, available units and sample costs. We toured the Country with them and agreed the target towns and cities where they wished to secure representation.

Stage 3:

We began searching for suitable available units within the agreed target locations. We commenced negotiations and proceeded to agree rental terms, tenant incentives, lease structure, break options and additional tenant specific requirements. On finalising terms, we assisted the legal team in bringing the lettings to lease signing. We assisted them in appointing a fit-out contractor and liaised with the team to provide unit plans and the technical information required to prepare fit out drawings for owner approval.

Outcome

Smiggle saw a stronger opening in Ireland than in any other territory they trade in. The conclusion to the roll out strategy saw the opening of stores in Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown Town Centre, Swords Pavilions, Ilac Centre, Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Crescent Shopping Centre and Winthrop Street in Cork.

Based on our understanding of the market and the Smiggle brand, our advice was an initial roll out of 5-10 store openings. We achieved this target, and the occupier was extremely pleased with our seamless acquisition strategy and the stores secured.

The Bannon Retail team specialises in both owner and occupier representation nationwide. We complete on average c. 170 retail transactions per year. Understanding the market is key whilst advising both owners and occupiers across their portfolio. We collect over 250 pieces of turnover data weekly/monthly, and we use this data and experience to maintain insight as the leading advisors to the retail market across the country.

Author:                Jennifer Mulholland, Divisional Director, Bannon

Date:                   15th June 2022

 

Kennedy Wilson seeks €33.5m for Dundalk’s Marshes Shopping Centre

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While the traditional retail sector continues to evolve in response to the challenges presented by the rise in online shopping and the questions posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the presence of two of Ireland’s most successful and resilient brands as anchors coupled with significant rental income from a strong tenant line-up is expected to attract interest from both domestic and international investors in the sale of the Marshes Shopping Centre.

The Dundalk scheme — acquired by its current owners, American real estate firm Kennedy Wilson, for €44.5 million in 2014 — is being offered to the market by joint agents CBRE and Bannon at a guide price of €33.5 million.

Anchored by a 71,600sq ft Penneys and a 116,500sq ft Dunnes Stores (grocery and drapery), the Marshes Shopping Centre has consistently delivered robust trading and occupancy levels and proved resilient through the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme is approaching a 100 per cent occupancy rate with its two remaining vacant units currently the subject of negotiations with prospective occupiers. Outside of its anchor tenants, the centre is generating a net operational income of about €3.4 million per annum from leading retailers including Boots, H&M, Eason and JD Sports. Some €400,000 of this income is being derived from the scheme’s surface car park, which also offers development potential according to the selling agents. The guide price of €33.5 million reflects a net initial yield of 9.2 per cent and a capital value of €233 per square foot.

Built originally in 2005 at a cost of €120 million, the Marshes Shopping Centre boasts a diverse national and international tenant mix including grocery, necessity retail, fashion, and food and beverage distributed across a lettable area (excluding anchors Penneys and Dunnes Stores) of 13,366sq m (144,000sq ft) on a site of 27.6 acres. The scheme has a prime location in Dundalk town and is widely regarded as one of the foremost retail centres for the wider northeast region.

In the short term, the investment offers the purchaser strong and sustainable rental income with multiple asset-management and income-growth opportunities including leasing up the remaining vacant space (last two units). There are a number of redevelopment options available also subject to planning permission, according to the selling agents.

Commenting on the sale, Roderick Nowlan, director at Bannon’s capital markets division said: “The acceleration of change within the retail sector, driven by Covid, has highlighted the strength of strong regional centres, especially those with robust grocery and necessity retail anchors as well as internet-resilient occupiers such as Penneys and Dunnes. The strong rent and service charge collection performance of this asset reflects this position.”

Kyle Rothwell, executive director at CBRE’s capital markets division, added: “We anticipate strong interest for Marshes Shopping Centre. The centre is performing exceptionally well and is supported by two very strong anchors and a complementary tenant mix. This scheme will appeal to those who are looking to complete short-term asset management and subsequently benefit from a fully let scheme.”

Article by The Irish Times

Neil Bannon on Dublin City Centre

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One of our recent Retail Pulse reports was referenced by David McWilliams in his article in Saturday’s Irish Times. The article suggests that one of the reasons for vacancy in the city centre is that Owners are demanding rental levels “priced to a pre COVID world” hoarding vacant property. The reality is very different, from a position of relative stability through 2018 & 2019 High Street rents dropped sharply, i.e. 40% by Q4 2020. They started to recover some of this loss in 2021 but are still down about 30% from 2019 levels. Current values on Grafton Street are just over half the level they were at the Celtic Tiger peak whereas values in every other real estate sector are now above their 2007 level. These are not my figures but are sourced from the MSCI Index.

From the Bannon perspective we have recently concluded 3 deals on Grafton Street and are in active discussions on many more. I don’t share David’s pessimism on Dublin City Centre and expect to see a more diverse and cosmopolitan retail mix emerge over the next year as these deals come to fruition, perhaps even a “vivacious metropolitan centre”.

If you want access to data on the retail and other sectors, click here.

 

The Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) Process explained

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The new Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) Process came into effect on the 17th December 2021 bringing to an end its much-debated predecessor the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme which commenced in 2016. The primary aim of the SHD process was to fast-track planning applications for developments of over 100 residential units or 200 student bed spaces.  While the primary aim of the LRD process remains the same as the SHD process, the major difference is that such applications will now be considered by the relevant Local Authority first rather than SHD applications which were lodged directly to An Bord Pleanála.

 

The LRD process can be broken into four distinct steps as follows:

I. Pre-Application (Section 247) Consultation with Planning Authority

8-week period of consultation with the relevant council.

II. LRD meeting with the Planning Authority and LRD Opinion

After the pre-application consultation, an LRD Meeting which is required to obtain an “LRD Opinion” concludes if “the proposal constitutes a reasonable basis for submitting an LRD planning application”.

III. LRD Application is Lodged

This must be done within 6 months of receiving the LRD Opinion.

IV. Decision

After the application is lodged the relevant Local Authority has 8 weeks to make a decision.

 

Following the decision of the Local Authority a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála is available.

It is hoped that the reintroduction of the initial observation to the Local Authority and the subsequent appeal stage to An Bord Pleanála will help to reduce the large number of Judicial Review cases which have become prevalent in recent years.  Furthermore, the initial consultations at local level should tease out contentious issues early in the application process.  However, it remains to be seen at this early stage of the LRD scheme whether or not the revised process will result in lower levels of Judicial Reviews and assist with the delivery of much needed residential developments.

 

Author:                Ronan Lavelle, Surveyor, Bannon

Date:                    13th June 2022

The Mater Foundation

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The Bannon team totalled up an impressive 3,227.40 miles for The Mater Foundation.

Bannon is delighted to present a cheque to the Foundation for €3,227.40 as well as €2,255.00 online donations, which will hopefully go some way to supporting improvement to patient care.

We want to thank those who got involved once again for all their efforts during a long, cold and wet February. We are proud of the team knowing we can make a difference when working together.

112/113 Grafton Street

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Bannon is delighted to have been part of a very successful launch today of 112/113 Grafton Street. A superb retail building redeveloped to the highest standard by Irish Life Investment Managers. 13,000 sqft of top quality space now available through Bannon and joint agent Savills.

Bannon Rent Review Report – Office Sector

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The commercial rental market is on the cusp of significant change. The true impact of Section 132 of the Land Conveyancing Reform Act 2009 is now impacting all reviews. Learn how our highly experienced team can help you with your rent review.

To view the full report, please click here.

Bannon adds Citywest Shopping Centre to its impressive retail property portfolio

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Date 31st May 2022: Retail property market leader, Bannon, has been appointed by Ardstone to manage Citywest Shopping Centre.  This is the latest in a series of new wins for the firm.

The Citywest area was launched in the 1990s with the building of the business campus and hotel, the largest in the country.  The development, was followed by an explosion of residential property, with planning in place for additional houses and apartments.  In 2007 Citywest Shopping Centre was opened with retail units varying in size from 816 to 7,502 square feet.

Bannon is Ireland’s largest, domestically owned commercial property consultancy firm.  It manages over 50 retail shopping centres and retail parks across the country, covering seven million sq.ft. of commercial real estate worth c. €2 billion.  As market leaders, Bannon has advised and managed the country’s most notable retail spaces in the last thirty years such as Stephen’s Green S.C., Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown S.C., Swords Pavilions. and The Square Tallaght.

Commenting on the new addition to their portfolio, Director of the Bannon Property Management team, Ray Geraghty said “Bannon are delighted to be working with Ardstone on what is another very significant shopping centre instruction. This instruction is further validation of the unrivalled expertise which the Bannon property management team possess. We are looking forward to bringing this experience to bear over the coming months which will be particularly relevant given the proposed residential development which Ardstone have planned for the site adjacent to the shopping centre.’’

For further information contact: Ray Geraghty Email: rgeraghty@bannon.ie Tel: 01 6477900.

Neil Bannon joined Newstalk Bobby Kerr on Down to Business

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Neil Bannon joined Newstalk Bobby Kerr on Down to Business on Saturday to discuss the medias negative perception of the Irish retail market.

While a negative narrative persists in the media, Neil points to CSO data that shows that the three-month moving average of retail sales values is substantially higher in March 2022 than it was Pre-Covid.

Neil & Bobby also discuss the future of Irish High Streets, how they were affected by Covid and the reset on Grafton Street with the arrival of new brands.

For the full discussion, please click here.

Bannon Retail Pulse Report – May 2022

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We are delighted to share our latest Bannon Retail Pulse.

The ongoing global macro-economic uncertainty is having a significant impact on consumer sentiment. Inflationary concerns coupled with an anticipated rise in central bank interest rates has provided a more uncertain backdrop and is something we will be keeping a close eye on in the coming months.

To view the full report, please click here.

Consumer Sentiment

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Sustained slide in Irish consumer sentiment points to major reassessment of economic and financial conditions.

The KBC Irish Consumer Sentiment Index slipped again in May for the fourth consecutive month. The previous four occasions this has happened in the twenty-six-year history of the survey reflected circumstances in which consumers faced marked difficulties in assessing potentially momentous changes in economic conditions. The last time the survey slipped for four consecutive months was in the summer of 2019 amid concerns over Brexit.

The current slippage follows the conflict in Ukraine and electricity/gas price hikes of 15-40% implemented by energy providers in the past two months. However, credit/debit card and Retail Sales data do not yet point to any material slowdown in spending, with expenditure on hard hit sectors such as accommodation and hospitality still recovering in May.

Property Picnic is now sold out!

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Great news….Property Picnic in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland is now sold out!
We are delighted to launch the Property Picnic Online Auction which is now Live with items sponsored by Dublin Airport Central, Red Rock Developments, SCSI – Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and ourselves Bannon including Four 6 Nations Rugby Tickets (last game of the series), A Ballyfin Demesne State Room experience, 4 Coldplay Tickets in Wembley (plus flights) and 2 return tickets to NYC (with Platinum Services through the VIP terminal).
Take a look at the prizes and register. You don’t need to be there to bid! Winners announced on the night.
If you still like to make a donation, please click the link below:

Bannon is Expanding

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The Bannon Property Management team is expanding with the addition of Iain McGann (pictured right). Iain brings a wealth of experience having worked most recently in BCM Global’s Dublin office as an Asset Manager. Ray Geraghty – Director of Property Management (pictured left) said “We are delighted to welcome Iain as we grow the team and continue to extend our reach in the market”.

Property Picnic

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Property Picnic was officially launched last week and to say that we are blown away by the support and generosity of so many is an understatement. Our primary focus in creating the event was to celebrate the life of our much-loved colleague Louise Creevy (nee Doherty) who sadly passed away last year and in doing so we also wanted to honour our industry colleague Jason Miller who also sadly passed in 2021.

We wanted to create an event that reflected Louise and Jason’s fun loving personalities and to raise significant funds for Cancer Trials Ireland . This organisation provided a great deal of support to Louise and her family throughout her illness and was their chosen charity.

We are thankful to all for giving us the opportunity to create this exciting event, in particular our Keystone sponsors Hibernia REIT plc, Core Capital Limited, Eagle Street Partners, Iconic Offices, Matheson, Glass Bottle and McGrath Group.

See you at the Picnic!

If you cannot attend the event but would like to make a donation to this worthy cause, click here.

Limited tickets available, click here.

Beer and Pizza

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Beer and Pizza session with the Bannon team to share the great work within each of the departments. The Professional Services team are up first. Super to see most of the team back in the office.

Society of Chartered Surveyors - SCSI Ireland

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