East Midlands leads as Q1 Big Box take-up surges
The East Midlands remains at the heart of a surging UK Big Box logistics market, according to latest figures produced by commercial agents, Avison Young.
Take-up of Grade A space rebounded in the first quarter of 2026, with activity in the Midlands – particularly the East Midlands – playing a defining role in the market’s momentum, according to the Q1 Big Box Bulletin from the firm.
The figures show total take-up reached 6m sq ft, a 37% increase year-on-year and nearly triple the volume recorded in the previous quarter, with properties in the East Midlands accounting for around half of all space transacted – reinforcing its position as the UK’s premier logistics hub.
David Willmer, Principal and Managing Director, Industrial and Logistics at Avison Young, said the trend towards the East Midlands was driven by occupiers continuing to prioritise established locations, as wider economic pressures such as rising fuel and energy costs could begin to temper investor sentiment.
“The Big Box market has started 2026 on the front foot, with take‑up rebounding strongly after a quieter end to last year,” he said.
“Momentum has returned, driven by third‑party logistics
“Prime rents have stabilised following the growth seen through 2025, pointing to a market that is fundamentally well balanced from an occupational standpoint. Investment activity has been more hesitant at the start of the year, reflecting geopolitical uncertainty and a cautious macroeconomic backdrop. That said, market fundamentals remain strong, and we expect leasing activity over the full year to broadly mirror 2025 levels.”
Available Grade A space rose to 59.7 million sq ft in Q1, up 5.9% on the previous quarter. Much of this stock—around 55%—is speculative development, underlining the continued confidence of developers in long-term demand.
However, a structural imbalance is becoming more apparent, with the majority of available units falling within the 100,000 to 399,999 sq ft range, while occupiers are increasingly seeking larger facilities.
Meanwhile prime headline rents across all UK regions held firm in Q1, following average growth of around 4% during 2025, reflecting a mature and broadly stable occupational market.
“Although availability has increased, it remains heavily skewed towards smaller units, which is still constraining choice for occupiers seeking larger, Grade A space. As a result, competition for well‑located, large buildings remains intense,” added Willmer.
Read Avison Young’s Q1 2026 Big Box Bulletin in full here: www.avisonyoung.co.uk/big-box-
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