WORCESTERSHIRE property agents John Truslove has reported another record year with sales and lettings up to 30 per cent on 2015.

Chartered surveyors and valuers John Truslove, who are based in Redditch, said Brexit had been a mere “hiccup” in a very successful year according to the firm.

Sales of industrial properties trebled in 2016 and could have been far higher if more stock had been available in north Worcestershire.

John Truslove director Ian Parker said demand was "further evidence of the pressing need" to identify more employment land in north east Worcestershire and the M42 corridor.

Mr Parker said: "It was noticeable that Hepworth Park, seven units speculatively built, let in short order, and when the 50,000 sq ft Unit 2 at Acanthus Park was released, it was snapped up by Avon Groupage prior to practical completion.

“This was Redditch’s first speculatively-built, large-scale Grade A industrial unit since the 2008 recession and it provided powerful evidence of the underlying demand for space in the town.

“Redditch, Bromsgrove and Droitwich are very well placed location-wise. They have good, skilled and semi-skilled residents and there is clearly an opportunity here that is being missed,” he said.

The office sector also fared well with Oakenshaw House, at 13,500 sq ft, being let by John Truslove in the largest office sale or letting in Redditch more than 10 years.

Mr Parker said that for the year ahead Brexit and the Trump presidency cast uncertainty over any attempt to make sound predictions, but he pointed out that the Brexit affect had so far been minimal in Worcestershire.

“The phones went quiet for a period after the vote and we had the usual quieter time during August, but the market returned with a bang in the autumn - hence our results being 30 per cent up, which arguably might have been better without the Referendum confusion," Mr Parker said,

“However, Worcestershire has a lot going for it. We have a proactive LEP and local authorities who are now well aware of the pressure on business space and the need to react positively."

“We look forward to another prosperous year."