Office rents in Sussex have risen steadily in the past six months with new highs achieved in Brighton and Crawley.

A review by Stiles Harold Williams also found higher than average prices in Worthing and Eastbourne.

There was also an increase in office availability as firms downsized.

A rent of £17 per sqft was achieved for offices in Trafalgar Place in Brighton while Pegasus Place 2 in Crawley was leased to property developer Rok for £23 per sqft.

Rents of £11.50 per sqft were achieved in Worthing and Eastbourne and Stuart House in Haywards Heath was let for £17 per sqft.

Stiles Harold Williams said the most significant development in the Brighton and Hove office market was the start of building at City Park One, the former site of the Alliance Building Society.

The report said investment in the city would increase because planning permission had been granted for the Brighton station site and building has started at Jubilee Street With expansion at Gatwick back on the agenda, more interest is being shown in office accommodation in the Crawley and Gatwick areas.

Tuesday April 29 2003