British Land has created a head of strategy position to look for new opportunities, a sign that large property companies are moving to the front foot to take advantage of the changing market.

The new appointment comes ahead of a management statement from Land Securities on Wednesday that is expected to strike a far more upbeat tone than before.

Land Securities has been one of the more bearish companies during the sector’s two-year slump, and its comments last quarter sent the market lower.

Land Securities is expected to say that it taking encouragement from signs of stability in parts of the market, and to give indications that it could start buying investment property for the first time since 2007.

It could also start developments within the next year, focused on the West End offices market where it expects rental values to return most quickly.

Financial Times