THE take-up of office space in Aberdeen city centre has risen to its highest level in around three and a half years, fuelling hopes that an economy recovery in the north east is underway.

Figures from property firm Savills reveal that a total of 181,000 sq ft of office space were leased in the first quarter of the year.

The total was the highest since the third quarter of 2013 and close to the total for the whole of last year.

Dan Smith, a director for Savills in Aberdeen, said: “We believe that the worst of the energy market downturn is behind us, and occupier confidence is slowly but surely returning to the market.”