Recently in Norfolk Category

Retail
Analysis of the Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich and Peterborough markets
Mark Simmons, freelance writer, 07787 561032, msimmons@sourceform.co.uk

Enterprise Zones
What will be the impact on property and development following the introduction of Enterprise Zones in the region?
Mark Smulian, freelance writer, 07976 267 172, mark.smulian@virgin.net

Cambridge offices
Forecasts and predictions for the market from agents, developers and occupiers
Nadia Elghamry, deputy Regional editor, 020 7911 1849, nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com

Science parks
What is the outlook for the region's science park market?
Helen Hamilton, freelance writer, 07758 833735 bluesomeh@gmail.com
Feature includes data and analysis of the science park market. Please send any up to date stats to Nadia Elghamry, deputy Regional editor, nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com

Market healthcheck
Analysis and up to date figures for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk's offices, retail and industrial markets.
Stacey Meadwell, Regional editor, 020 7911 1819, stacey.meadwell@estatesgazette.com

Offices
A look at trends in the marketplace.
Mark Simmons, freelance writer, 07787 561032, msimmons@sourceform.co.uk

Retail
Analysis of the market and forecasts
Adrian Morrison, freelance writer, 07818 013 233, adrian.morrison@addmor.com 

Funding
What's the outlook for the city centre's funding market?
Nadia Elghamry, deputy regional editor, 020 7911 1849, nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com

Market health check
Covers offices, industrial and retail markets in all three counties. Please send any up to date stats to Nadia Elghamry, deputy regional editor, 020 7911 1849, nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com

But there is some sour to go with that sweet. Those first three names have all opened up on Castle Street which was heavily hit by the opening of Chapelfield shopping centre but has since enjoyed something of a renaissance. The reason: rents are roughly half what they were at the peak, and retailers have been quick to bag a bargain. Rents are now staging something of a recovery, albeit a slow one.

Also, the city's worst kept secret is that Jamie's Italian will open up in the old Waterstones unit by Royal Arcade.

New construction orders fell 20% in Cambridge in 2010 compared to the year before. That's a fifth wiped off some already pretty sick looking numbers.

Building data isn't something we usually analyse on the Focus blog but, at the moment, with construction all but halted in many regions it's providing a good early indicator of when things might properly start rolling again.

Bidwells has just published its first Building Trends report and it reckons that the outlook for the south east (stripping out London) is benign at best,  not helped by a 20-30% drop in property capital values in 2008.

For the east of England its says property is unlikely to rise rapidly in either the commercial or residential market for the next two to three years. There are a few exceptions (Oxford and Essex - click on read more below to see a breakdown by area) but Cambridge's science park market remains patchy and high property costs are inhibiting major new schemes. It says that colleges are foccusing on the volume and standard of student accommodation and ancillary projects such as kitchen refurbishements. When a report starts talking about putting in new cookers and fridges as the activity in the market is it time to worry?

Hot on our post last week about unusual properties being brought to the market comes another, this former Victorian mental hospital in Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich. One buyer could, literally, take over the asylum. Now that would be fun to throw into a dinner party conversation.

Cambridge offices & science parks
Analysis of market trends
Contact: Daniel Cunningham, acting deputy regional editor, 020 7911 1822, daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com

Occupiers
Analysis of the trends across all three counties
Contact: Mark Simmons, freelance writer, 07787 561032, msimmons@sourceform.co.uk

Local Enterprise Partnerships
Analysis of the new organisations.
Contact: Melanie Clarkson, freelance writer, 0775 952 8010
melclarkson@googlemail.com

Infrastructure
Analysis of the impact of spending cuts across all three counties
Contact: Stacey Meadwell, regional editor, 020 7911 1819, Stacey.meadwell@estatesgazette.com

Market in numbers (all three counties, all sectors)
Please contact Stacey Meadwell, regional editor, stacey.meadwell@estatesgazette.com if you think you can supply up to date statistics.

Cambridge public sector
A look at key issues and trends
Karen Day, freelance writer, 07971 671 369, karen.day@dsl.pipex.com

Ipswich
An examination of the local market
David Thame, North West features writer, 01544 262896, dthame@clara.co.uk

Huntingdon
What lies ahead for the town?
Nadia Elghamry, deputy regional editor, 020 7911 1849, nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com

Residential
Analysis of the sector and its effect on the local market
David Thame, North West features writer, 01544 262896, dthame@clara.co.uk

Market in numbers
Figures and forecasts covering offices, retail, industrial and investment across all three counties
Please send up to date statistics and forecasts to Nadia Elghamry, deputy regional editor, at nadia.elghamry@estatesgazette.com

Our Mipim issue is just going to bed cue:a huge sigh of relief in the office.

And in honour of the Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk features in it we've asked the agents from the East of England what they think about their markets at the moment.

Locals from Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich talk about:

• - Ashwell becoming Brookgate and the future of CB1
• - the general election
• - a potential prelet at Targetfollow's Duke's Wharf in Norwich
• - rental growth in Ipswich

Watch the short video above to hear what they say. 

All these topics will be discussed in much more detail in this Saturday's EG, and you can now see all the pictures from the Cambridge reception by clicking here.