The Essex office market saw activity improve in the second half of 2024, pushing take up for the year to 142,000 sq ft, 13% up on the previous 12 months. Activity has been focused on transactions below 10,000 sq ft, with only two deals completing above this level, the 12,650 sq ft letting to Cambridge Business School at Orsett Road Grays and Woodland Group taking 10,500 sq ft at Montrose Road in Chelmsford.

The current year has started strongly, with 60,600 sq ft of transactions completing, with the largest deals being the 33,800 sq ft freehold purchase of Xchanging House in Basildon and the 16,250 sq ft letting to insurance group QBE at Regent House in Chelmsford.