Credit crunch prompts move to limit spending by starting no major new schemes until 2010
Commercial property giant Hammerson will not start any new developments until the end of 2009, as the credit crunch continues to bite.
The firm said in a statement to the stock exchange this morning that the downturn is hitting its business, and that 鈥渘o major new developments will start before the end of 2009鈥�.
However, it added that it is still on course to spend 拢200m on construction in 2008 and has completed four big retail schemes in recent months.
The firm also said it is continuing to progress planning and design and prelets on several schemes, while 鈥渓imiting further capital expenditure鈥�.
John Nelson, chairman of Hammerson, said that the financial market turmoil is having a 鈥渕ajor impact on real estate markets leading to caution on the part of occupiers and a sharp decline in investment activity鈥�.
He added: 鈥淭hese challenging conditions are likely to persist for some time. Nevertheless, I believe the group is in a good position to benefit when conditions in real estate markets improve.鈥�
The firm said that occupancy rates in its properties have fallen from 97.7% to 95.5%, but this is mainly because of the recent completion of four schemes in the past quarter.
Hammerson has recently sold the Moorhouse office building in the City of London for 拢152m, incurring a loss of 拢17m on its book value.
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