​Industrial and logistics sector abuzz with activity

Sustainability, the rise in last-mile logistics and the impact of Covid-19 are all major talking points – and with good reason, given how critical the ongoing success of the industrial and logistics sector is to the UK’s recovery as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis.

However, for all the opportunities, there are also plenty of challenges ahead. Last week, Boris Johnson announced that he had tightened the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions target ahead of COP26 in November. Developers are now under more pressure than ever to rise to the climate crisis challenge. Some are looking at the dilapidation process, which typically sees a lot of unnecessary waste generated.

Another big question is whether demand for industrial and logistics space will continue to soar – in January 2021, the number of requirements for industrial space was 223% higher than in January 2020 – and whether there will be sufficient supply to meet the demand.

All these issues and more will be debated at Property Week’s must-attend virtual Industrial & Logistics Conference & Showcase, on 26-27 May. Hosted by the BBC’s Mark Easton, the event boasts an impressive array of heavyweight industry speakers and looks set to be the most thought-provoking I&L yet. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out.

Grace Howarth is Property Week’s market reports editor