This field contains data about the total Net Internal Area (NIA) for commercial use. The value can be recorded to three decimal places.

All higher education providers (HEPs).

This field records the returnable NIA of commercial use for the whole estate.

This field is not used in the calculation of Total NIA.

Principles of returning commercial space

Commercial space that can be separately identified as a discrete area together with all associated costs, for example energy, waste, and emissions should be excluded from the EMR.

Where the associated costs, such as waste and energy cannot be separately identified for a commercial space area, this is when the commercial space area should be included in the EMR. Providers should return the commercial space area as per other areas under the appropriate space measurement field, for example Residential GIA. The associated costs should also be included in the return. Providers should also return the space as part of the total commercial space fields for GIA and NIA. This way, the total commercial space area can be distinguished from either Total GIA or Total NIA.

Further guidance on returning commercial space can be found here.