An important update on the state of the residential property market from Neil Chatterton, Managing Director of Caxtons. 

Caxtons Chartered Surveyors has been selected by Locate in Kent and Kent County Council's Economic & Spatial Development Division to partner them to produce the annual Kent Property Market Report for the next three years.

The Kent-based firm will research the annual publication, which reviews activity and major deals in the county's commercial and residential property sectors. 

The report, which is in its 22nd year, is the definitive guide on the state of the property market and is used to help attract investment into Kent and Medway. Caxtons takes over from Cluttons LLP who, together with KCC and Locate in Kent, were founding partners.

Researchers at Caxtons will now start analysing property performance in Kent during 2012/13, including an overview of the county's property market, and a detailed review of the business park, office, industrial, retail and residential sectors. 

They will also work closely with Locate in Kent and KCC to collate data about the year's regeneration projects and inward investment successes.

                         Neil Chatterton, Managing Director, Caxtons Chartered Surveyors

Caxtons’ Managing Director, Neil Chatterton, said: "Caxtons has consistently demonstrated a strong, local and subject knowledge, providing quality, specialist, property help, advice and practical assistance to thousands of owners, investors and businesses across Kent.

"We are delighted that our strong local knowledge and expertise has been recognised by Locate in Kent and Kent County Council, and that they have asked us to partner them in the Kent Property Market Report.

"It's a really exciting time for Caxtons to be getting involved with the project. Last year continued to be challenging for the economy and the property market, but there were some exciting developments taking place that have put Kent in a very favourable position to see growth in specific sectors.

"Over the next six months our consultants and researchers will be gathering relevant data for analysis to compile the report."

Caxtons will also sponsor the official launch of the 2013 Kent Property Market Report, which will be held on Thursday 17 October 2013, at Discovery Park, Sandwich.

For more information about the Kent Property Market Report, visit www.kentpropertymarket.co.uk.

2013 has started strongly for the European retail real estate investment market according to research by Jones Lang LaSalle. Activity totalled €5.1bn during the first quarter, up nearly 60% in comparison with Q1 2012.

Planning consent has been for the new £50 million Rubislaw 7 speculative office development in Aberdeen.

German baker Ditsch has appointed property consultants Cushman & Wakefield to advise as it looks to expand into 50 new locations across the UK.

Established in Mainz, Germany, in 1919, the business is looking for sites in UK locations with prime footfall, such as regional shopping centres, major city and town centres, pedestrian high streets and tourist destinations.

Ditsch has grown from humble beginnings as a small pizza and pretzel maker to today employing 400 staff in 200 outlets in Germany and the UK. It now offers a range of products, freshly baked on the premises, which mainly include pizza slices, various baked snacks and beverages.

The firm is currently based in 13 UK locations including: Victoria Station, London; Union Street, Birmingham; Westfield in Derby; Arndale Shopping Centre, Manchester; Commercial Street, Leeds; and Paradise Street in Liverpool.

Cushman & Wakefield will assist Ditsch in securing units from 85 sq ft to a maximum of 270 sq ft (8 sq m-25 sq m) and any shop configuration, such as under-escalator kiosks, corner locations, RMUs or mobile stands, will be considered.

Matt Illingworth, partner at Cushman & Wakefield, said: "Ditsch is a long-established German company with strong financial backing and a scalable business model. Baking delicious products in front of customers' eyes is a simple concept for which there is always an appetite. We will help Ditsch find bright, modern and flexible units which will complement the firm's high standards."