SOUTHAMPTON-based property specialist Chesterton says there has been an "upsurge" in enquiries for the city's core office market.

It says the situation reflects a recent commercial market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which found that, nationally, demand for office space is currently rising at its fastest pace since 2000, after four years of high vacancy levels and low rents.

Chesterton surveyor Gemma Goakes said: "Office enquiries are definitely up by around 30 per cent year-on-year, and we are now expecting a much stronger year for take-up.

"Last year we saw extremely poor take-up in the city's office market, due to the lack of good quality stock, but in the latter part of the year several good quality second-hand buildings became available - and as a result, the market definitely seems to be improving.

"Demand for offices in Southampton currently appears to be coming from a limited number of sources, such as government-related bodies and professional services companies, although in Eastleigh and along the M27 a wider range of businesses are enquiring about new office space."

Chesterton has just been instructed to market the lease of 2,685 sq ft of second-floor offices in Carlton Place.

The self-contained accommodation, located in the three-storey Spencer House, is being offered on flexible terms for £28,500 per annum - and Gemma expects to see high levels of interest.

She said: "Spencer House is a prominent building, and its light, modern offices have recently been refurbished. They would be ideal for any professional services company interested in relocating to Southampton's principal business quarter."