Ryden's rush of deals is a welcome ray of sunshine

IN A RARE glimmer of light in an otherwise gloomy property market, Edinburgh-based commercial property agent Ryden said it had sealed five office deals in a matter of days.

The firm has signed up Co-op Bank as the latest tenant for Lochrin Square, with a ten-year lease for 1,822sq ft, while ICON Clinical Research UK took 3,619sq ft at South Gyle.

Ryden has also been involved in deals for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, which took a 941sq ft office at Newington Business Centre and a 983sq ft lease on a building at Cumberland Street for sports analyst Optimal Analysis.

Meanwhile, it also assigned the lease on a 577sq ft office unit at Dean Park Street to a private tenant who is to use it as an arts and crafts workshop.

Ryden partner Peter I'Anson said the deals reflected continued demand in the occupational market, particularly for smaller office space despite current economic difficulties.

He said: "We see that the smaller end of the market is continuing to tick along, with the larger companies reacting to office relocations only if they have up-and-coming break options or lease terminations."