Cooke & Arkwright

New Director at Cooke & Arkwright

11/10/08

Cooke & Arkwright has appointed Huw Thomas MRICS, who heads its retail department, to the board of directors. Chairman Roger Thomas made the announcement and said that he was “personally delighted at his appointment”.

The retail department’s work includes the acquisitions and disposal of leaseholds and freeholds, providing landlord & tenant, Expert Witness, development and consultancy advice to institutional landlords, national and regional retailers.

Commenting on current conditions, Huw said, “It is difficult to predict what will happen to the retail market over the next six months, but in my opinion, it is unfortunately likely to worsen before improving again, hopefully from the middle of 2009 onwards. The six weeks leading up to any Christmas is a critical trading period for retailers, more so this year than during the last 10-15 years and this will be a key indicator as to the amount of retail activity which takes place during 2009. 

“Landlords, to assist their tenants during this difficult trading period, have to show a degree of flexibility and a number of national retailers have requested that rents are paid monthly in advance as opposed to the more standard quarterly in advance basis.  2009 will be an interesting year in more ways than one.”

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