Eastern Seaboard Industrial Vacancy Study

Industrial Vacancy Study gives essential insights to major industrial owners and occupiers.

This report provides the current industrial vacancy rate for buildings over 10,000m2 across the three capital cities on the Eastern Seaboard.

Overall, we’re seeing very low vacancy rates – at 2% in Sydney, 3% in Melbourne and 4.2% in Brisbane.

The volume of speculative development activity that had pushed up vacancy rates has eased. There has been generally strong tenant enquiry for new premises, particularly as automation in warehousing gets genuine traction, resulting in strong recent construction numbers and land absorption. Land is now getting tight in many prime industrial locations, particularly for large contiguous lots to accommodate large format users.

Slice the data in multiple scenarios, by geography, grade or size.

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INTERPRETING THE ANALYSIS

The study has targeted buildings of 10,000m2 or greater in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In total our analysis covers over 1,450 buildings and 29,000,000m² of industrial floor space.

Quality gradings have been applied to all buildings summarised as follows:

Prime – Buildings no older than ten years which suit a diverse range of occupiers. A minimum 8.5 metre internal clearance and extensive truck marshalling and hardstand areas.

Modern – Buildings between 10 and 20 years old, generally providing in excess of 7 metre internal clearance.

Secondary – Buildings between 20 and 35 years old, generally providing a minimum 6 metre internal clearance.

Tertiary – Buildings over 35 years old, most of which are unlikely to have many alternate users, other than discount short-term storage, upon vacation by the current occupier.

Included as vacant buildings, beyond those physically vacant, are buildings under construction and to reach practical completion within three months in addition to those currently occupied on a monthly tenancy or those where the current occupier is known to be relocating to alternate premises within the next three months.

Excluded from the study are buildings within the various sea Ports (e.g. Port of Melbourne, Botany and Brisbane) as they represent a narrow and specific (freight) industrial user group in addition to buildings outside the respective Metropolitan regions (e.g. Geelong, Warnervale, Newcastle).

 3% Vacancy Rate - Melbourne

Melbourne’s vacancy has fallen from 4.7% in Q1 2017 to 3% in Q3 2017.

This is the result of strong take up, active owner occupiers purchasing vacant stock and a reduction in the volume of speculative activity. The falling land supply pipeline, particularly in the south east, is likely to keep vacancies relatively low.

2% Vacancy Rate – Sydney

This is out inaugural industrial vacancy study for Sydney: at 2% we’re witnessing a very tight vacancy rate, particularly if you consider Prime and Modern building vacancy is just 1.2%.

This makes for a very challenging market for tenants to relocate. Sydney’s land supply remains tight and genuine rental growth and falling incentives must follow.

4.2% Vacancy Rate – Brisbane

From the perspective of owners and developers, Brisbane is a challenging market, yet improving.

The speculative development pipeline has been eased and vacancy is trending downwards. Australian Trade Coast (ATC), Brisbane’s largest sub market, has a lower vacancy rate of 3%.v

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