The recovery in the UK commercial property market was further confirmed during the first three months of 2014 as values rose by 2.2 per cent for all property, contributing to a total return of 3.7 per cent for the period, according to the IPD latest index.

Although this represented a slight deceleration since the final three months of 2013, a return to rental growth for all sectors provided further evidence of the solid foundations now underpinning the market.

The prevailing long-term recovery in the UK was confirmed by a total return for the year to the end of March of 13.3 per cent, significantly up on the annual return to end 2013 of 10.5 per cent; this was also the highest level recorded since 2010.