Since last year we have expanded our survey area slightly to include parts of Ann Street and High Street which were originally not considered good enough to attract such covenants. There are now 367 units in our overall sample but the rental growth index is based, as always, on evidence from the top 75 which comprise the absolute prime. A map showing the area surveyed is reproduced on the back cover of the report. Retail Space Information on retail floorspace has been obtained from the the Valuation and Lands Agency main database. Only those properties used wholly or mainly for retail purposes have been included.
All floor areas are net internal and exclude common parts where appropriate.
Measurements are expressed in square metres. Large Stores These are defined as those shops having retail floorspace in excess of 4,000 square metres. The total occupied retail floorspace has been disaggregated into fourteen categories of use which are shown in Diagram 6. A rents have been estimated for each property, on the basis of market evidence, and the result multiplied by the equivalent Zone A floorspace. The results are summed to give a total notional rent for all the sample properties.