Cooke & Arkwright has been named Commercial Agent of the Year 2020 at the second Cardiff Property Awards, held virtually on Friday 26th March 2021. It is the second year in a row that the firm has been named Commercial Agent of the Year after winning the title in the 2019 inaugural awards.

Cooke & Arkwright has been named Most Active Retail Agent in Wales, 2020 by Estates Gazette, a leading title in the commercial property industry. This is the second consecutive year in which the Retail & Leisure team has claimed the title in Wales.

As we reach another quarter day no resolution is in sight to the problem of Covid related commercial rent arrears. As anticipated, the Welsh and Westminster Governments have announced an extension of the moratorium preventing forfeiture for non-payment of rent due to the pandemic until after 30 June 2021.

Greggs is to open its first drive-thru outlet in Wales in summer 2021. Cooke & Arkwright’s Retail & Leisure agency have recently agreed terms and have exchanged contracts on a new-build site on Fabian Way, Swansea and construction work is now underway. It is expected to open in July.

HM Treasury is to introduce retrospective legislation that effectively rules out business rate appeals based on material change in circumstances (MCC) due to the pandemic. It said it would provide more targeted support than the business rate appeals system, and announced a new rate relief fund of £1.5 billion for UK businesses affected by Covid19. This will target office-based businesses and sectors outside non-essential retail, where there is a moratorium on business rates.

A roadside site on Cardiff Road in Barry has been regenerated and turned around following its acquisition by local investment developer, VCD Asset Management. The half-acre site was acquired by VCD Asset Management in the summer of 2019 from Briscombe Commercial Laundrette & Dry Cleaners in a deal brokered by Cooke & Arkwright.