Make no mistake 2024 was a more muted year for commercial real estate transactions than market practitioners would have wanted and getting deals over the line remained a difficult task. Despite what it termed "rebounding" activity, Carter Jonas's figures, based on CoStar data, calculated a rolling annual total by the fourth quarter for the year exceeding £40 billion for the first time since the second quarter of 2023, but 23% below the five-year average of £53.5 billion.

Certain markets had particularly tough times. Central London offices for instance reported the lowest transaction volumes for 15 years at £6.2 billion, according to Knight Frank. All the more reason to celebrate the exceptional performance of many of the investment brokerages in completing stellar transactions in a difficult environment.

JLL leads the annual national sales table for 2024, clear of the field, thanks largely to its involvement in the disposal of 10 Radisson Blu Hotels on behalf of Edwardian Group for £800 million. Savills takes second place, in part, for its representation of Oxford Properties Group and M7 Real Estate in the disposal of 16 retail parks for £518 million. CBRE’s third-place ranking is facilitated in part by its involvement in sales of Meadowhall Shopping Centre at £360 million and Morrison Ground Rent Portfolio at £331 million.

CBRE takes first place in the annual acquisitions table, after advising on £3 billion worth of purchases, including Landsec's £490 million purchase of Liverpool One, and representing Royal London Asset Management in the £192 million Regent’s Place acquisition.

Knight Frank places second, supported by representing Sterling Property Ventures and Letter One in the purchase of Project Endeavour for £236 million and Chancerygate’s acquisition of the Questor Industrial Estate for £145.5 million. Savills comes in third after representing Lone Star Funds in the acquisition of Project Tiger for £600 million as well as other deals.

ACRE Capital Real Estate tops the annual niche sales table with over £860 million in reported sales for 2024. Of many notable deals is ACRE’s role in the disposal of Project Endeavour for £236 million on behalf of British Airways Pension Scheme. Michael Elliott comes second boosted by the disposal of 3 St James Square for Joint Treasure International for £126 million. Stockford Anderson ranks third facilitated by its role in Brookfield Asset Management’s sale of seven retail parks for £441 million.

ACRE also places first in the annual acquisitions table boosted by the purchase of Project Apex for £351 million on behalf of GoldenTree Asset Management. TT&G Partners comes second in part due to its work on the £400 million Landsec hotels purchase. Glenlyon Real Estate takes third place supported by representing Redevco in the acquisition of M7 Real Estate and Oxford Properties’ 16 retail parks for £518 million.

In the fourth quarter 2024 national sales table, Eastdil Secured claims the top overall position.  Of a flurry of deals, the largest was acting for Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in the disposal  of Project Robin to joint venture partners Amante Capital, Baupost Group International and  Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for £869.2 million. The portfolio comprised 33 Marriott and Delta  Hotels all over the UK. Savills secures the second spot of the quarter, representing Oxford  Properties Group and M7 Real Estate in the disposal of Box+III/ Redevco portfolio, comprising  16 retail parks to Redevco for £518 million. Newmark places third for disposing of a 50% share  of the AGLP/KING portfolio to TPG for £671.3 million, the portfolio comprises 59 business parks  across the UK. Newmark’s position is strengthened by its unification with Gerald Eve and BH2.  

CBRE leads the fourth quarter 2024 national acquisitions table by advising Landsec on the  acquisition of a 92% share of the Liverpool One shopping centre from Abu Dhabi Investment  Authority and Grosvenor for £490 million. Knight Frank takes second place in part because of  the Questor Industrial Estate acquisition for £145.58 million. ACRE Capital Real Estate secures  the table’s third position, for its part in advising GoldenTree Asset  Management on the acquisition of Project Apex for £351 million from the Abrdn Property  Income Trust.  

In the Q4 2024 niche sales table, Stockford Anderson leads for representing Brookfield Asset Management in its disposal of seven retail parks across the UK to British Land for £441 million. ACRE Capital Real Estate takes second place, partly for advising Pictet and Marchmont on the sale of Hart Street retail park in Maidstone for £47.30 million. Michael Elliott secures the third spot following its advice on £126 million sale of 3 St James’s Square in London from Joint Treasure International to Realty Income.

ACRE Capital Real Estate claims top position in the Q4 2024 niche acquisitions table. In aseries of deals, its largest is for representing GoldenTree Asset Management in the acquisition of Project Apex from Abrdn Property Income Trust for £315 million. Glenlyon Real Estate places second, following its advice to Redevco in the acquisition of 16 retail parks across the country from Oxford Properties and M7 Real Estate for £518 million. TT&G Partners takes third place for representing Feldberg Capital and Henry Boot Developments in the purchase of the Origin JV portfolio comprising four industrial units for £115 million.