Looking back over 2016 it was clearly evident that Commercial property transactions throughout the whole of the Wyre Forest area improved a lot over the year. Undoubtedly the start of the redevelopment of the former sugar beet factory on Stourport Road command other new redevelopment in Stourport Road and throughout the district shows much improved interest and confidence in this area from businesses.

There have been more sales of freehold commercial property than in recent years and enquiries from companies wanting to establish in the area has increased. Lettings of industrial units and other commercial properties have also improved and most of the former Sealine Factory in Worcester Road is now occupied. It is good that companies are regarding Kidderminster as being an area in which to establish and expand which must be good from a local employment point of view.

The volume of traffic around the district has also increased over the last year and although there is still an exodus every morning into the West Midlands the fact that there are now companies established here that will employ local people is good for the area generally.

It was predicted that if we can see significant growth in business locally then in time this should also help improve the Retail Sector which has and for the moment will continue to see many empty shop premises in the town centre. There have however been some improvements in relation to empty retail property and there are now some shop units, which were empty, and are now occupied. However there are still many more still empty. As some major retailers report difficult trading conditions over the Christmas period. It is unlikely there will be any significant improvement with retailers wanting to take new premises in the short term.

The rejuvination of Kidderminster town centre by Wyre forest District Council has provided more an air of prosperity but the Bull Ring area still desperately needs to be done.

The changes that Kidderminster is now seeing are long overdue and it is hoped that 2017 will continue to see increased business prosperity.

Stourport and Bewdley have not seen any significant change and levels of occupancy of commercial buildings are much lower and particularly in Bewdley there is a healthy demand for all types of commercial property.

So 2017 does look promising for the area and so long as the country enjoys relatively stable trading conditions then the outlook for the area looks good.

John E Andrews FRICS MARLA Partner Doolittle & Dalley