Birmingham’s lettings market confounded the general economic downturn by finishing 2010 with a record number of deals.

According to figures releases by the Birmingham Office Market Forum (BOMF), there were 141 lettings in and around Birmingham city centre and Edgbaston over the past 12 months compared to 110 last year, 120 in 2008 and 118 in 2007.

In terms of the amount of space let, 2010 saw 668,392 sq ft taken across the year – more than the 657,280 sq ft in 2009 and the 2007 total of 662,207 sq ft.

However, it fell some way short of the 2008 total of 959,317 sq ft although this was skewed by the massive KPMG and Barclays lettings at One Snowhill.

Jonathan Carmalt, from King Sturge, said it had undoubtedly been a tough year but not the disaster that some had predicted.

He said: “I think it is fair to say that the eventual outcome for the year has been better than expected really.”