Governance
Financial Statements
Additional Information
Strategic Report
This year we have been able to repurpose assets to unlock value with alternative use potential and continue our property level outperformance.
a noticeable improvement so far in 2024 compared with 2023. Occupational demand remains robust in the industrial sector and in the retail sector it has stabilised for good quality real estate. The office sector is still going through a period of transition, with the very best quality and greener buildings seeing rental growth, while offices requiring greater capital investment or which are in the wrong location, are struggling to attract occupiers. We have successfully repurposed office assets in Cardiff for student accommodation and in London for residential use, resulting in exchange of contracts to sell both assets at premiums to the preceding quarterly independent valuation. We are also pursuing an alternative use strategy at Charlotte Terrace, London W14. Our investment into over 20 assets has helped us to retain and secure new occupiers while improving our EPC ratings for the fourth consecutive year.
We continue to actively manage the portfolio completing over 80 asset management transactions, increasing both passing rent and estimated rental value (ERV). At the year-end, the portfolio passing rent was £44.7 million, an increase from the prior year of £1.4 million, or 3%. The contracted rent, which is the gross rent receivable after the expiry of lease incentives, also increased by 3% or £1.2 million. The March 2024 ERV of the portfolio was £57.6 million, a 3% increase on the prior year. We had ERV growth of 3% in the industrial sector proven by new lettings and active management. The office sector was up 4% with our central London holdings in Farringdon and Covent Garden particularly benefitting from rental growth, and the retail and leisure sector increased by 1%. Recognising the weak economic backdrop during the year, occupational markets have been remarkably resilient, and there is
£44.7m Passing rent 3% Increase in ERV
Industrial weighting 59%
42% 17%
South East
Rest of UK
Office weighting 30%
Top ten occupiers The largest occupiers, based as a percentage of contracted rent, as at 31 March 2024, are as follows:
9% 8% 7% 6%
Rest of UK
South East
Contracted rent (£m)
Occupier
%
Central London
Public sector
1.7 1.6 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.7
3.6 3.4 3.4 2.6 2.4 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.4
Alternative use
Whistl UK Limited
The Random House Group Limited
Retail and Leisure weighting 11%
B&Q Plc
Snorkel Europe Limited
XMA Limited
Portal Chatham LLP
7% 2% 2%
Retail Warehouse
DHL Supply Chain Limited
4 Aces Limited
High Street Rest of UK
Hi-Speed Services Limited
Leisure
Total
11.4
23.6
Picton Property Income Limited / Annual Report 2024
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