ABSTRACT
The availability of data on commercial floorspace has not responded to the widening interest in economic development by pubic authorities. The political importance of housing and the responsibility of local authorities for the welfare of their population led to the collection of data on the condition of the housing stock and levels of investment in housing. In contrast, the growth in concern for employment has not produced comparable data for commercial property, although the provision of land and buildings is often the main component of a local economic strategy. This chapter covers four types of commercial property: manufacturing, warehousing, retail and office. Across these sectors the level of information varies, but in most cases the available information remains more limited than the residential sector. Following recent cut-backs in the publication of commercial floorspace data, researchers are now fortunate if they are able to identify how much property their area contains. Knowledge of more qualitative aspects of the built stock still depends largely on original survey collection.
