News
Hollister to open first Scottish outlet store at Livingston Designer Outlet
1st October 2026Hollister is set to open its first outlet store in Scotland at Livingston Designer Outlet this winter. The fashion retailer will open a 8,000 sq ft store, occupying a space vacated by Nike following the brand’s relocation into a significantly expanded store. Hollister will join an established lineup of fashion retailers at Livingston Designer Outlet that includes Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Levi’s. The signing builds on a period of strong leasing momentum and continued investment at Livingston Designer Outlet. This year has seen refit commitments from Castore and NEXT, and new lettings to Flip Out, Tikka Nation, and Hamilton & Brown. Nicky Lovell, head of outlets and retail business development at Global Mutual, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Hollister to Livingston. It’s a great addition that broadens our fashion offer and gives younger shoppers another reason to visit. “Securing its first Scottish outlet, alongside Nike’s recent upsize, shows real brand confidence in Livingston. It also comes at an important time, ahead of the key Christmas trading period.”
Deals
Battersea Power Station to welcome flurry of new brands in 2026
30th September 2026Battersea Power Station in London is set to welcome a number of new retailers and operators this year, bringing the total number of new entrants at the development in 2026 to 20. Pub and dining concept The Hero’s Return, Japanese restaurant Konjiki, Asian dining hotspot Noodle Inn, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, Mango Man, and fitness and lifestyle club, One City, are among some of the brands that will be joining the neighbourhood. Opening in Circus West Village in autumn 2026, The Hero’s Return will be a new 9,000 sq ft riverside pub and dining concept from the team behind London pasta restaurant group Bancone. A modern take on a traditional London pub, the venue will feature an 80-cover restaurant. Meanwhile Konjiki will open its second London location inside the Power Station and will be joined by Noodle Inn, adding to the destination’s growing line up of Asian restaurants and retailers. Health-focused café, Jungleberry Acai will also join over 50 eateries already open across Battersea Power Station. Later this year, Virgin Atlantic Holidays will open a new store inside the Power Station, offering personalised advice and long-haul holidays, while Mango is expanding its presence, moving into a larger unit and bringing Mango […]
Requirements
Costa Coffee brews up further expansion
8th September 2026Costa Coffee has unveiled its latest property requirements as it looks to continue its expansion across England, Scotland, and Wales. The coffee shop chain, working with its long-standing partner Savills, is looking to open new locations in retail parks and shopping centres, as well as on high streets and within travel locations. Costa Coffee is also looking to open drive-through units in out-of-town retail locations. Ideal units will range in size between 1,250 sq ft and 2,200 sq ft and be located adjacent to foodstores, retail warehousing, and leisure space. Within retail parks, Costa is seeking units ranging between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft in size with external seating. Freestanding or in-line units will be considered, with nearby car parking a necessity. Ideal units will be situated in out-of-town locations with significant traffic flow, adjacent to foodstores, and retail and leisure clusters. In high street and shopping centre destinations, Costa is looking for units between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft with outside seating. Locations such as universities, hospitals, and leisure destinations will also be considered. The operator is also looking to open new sites within travel locations such as transport hubs and train stations with significant […]
Insights
Opinion: Out of town retailers race for space in increasingly “sticky” market
23rd September 2026The out of town retail market is facing supply challenges due to a very limited development pipeline and existing occupiers increasingly looking to remain in situ. With extremely tight vacancy in this market, the challenge is not a lack of appetite for space, but whether a suitable unit will become available at all.
Advice
Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains
10th March 2026By Simon Matley, director for dilapidations and occupier services at TFT After a period of acquisition, a large commercial retail portfolio can become either a major liability or a powerful cost saver for retailers who need every advantage they can get in a challenging consumer market. For national multiples and high street brands, often with sizeable portfolios numbering in the hundreds of units, or for smaller regional operations that are growing at speed, flexibility and control are hugely important. Brands today are adapting their portfolios in light of changing consumer behaviour and omni-channel retailing, and this is shaped by the increasingly sophisticated data capture that allows them to better understand stock, fulfilment, customer behaviour, and operations. For many who have been acquiring premises over the past 10 years, they will almost certainly find that data allows them to be more efficient in the space they need, not least because of the growth of last mile logistics and on demand deliveries which enables occupiers to be nimble in how they use their spaces. Whether they operate on the high street, in retail parks or rely on distribution centres, retailers want to scale fast, explore new territory and snap up the right […]
News
Landsec acquires Gateshead’s Metrocentre for £516m
1st October 2026Landsec has exchanged contracts to acquire a 100% stake on the Metrocentre shopping centre in Gateshead for a net cash consideration of £516m. With 1.86 million sq ft of lettable floorspace, Metrocentre is home to 282 stores and generates annual retail sales of approximately £650m. The acquisition also includes an adjacent retail park, which covers 0.2 million sq ft of retail space across 15 units. Overall occupancy at Metrocentre is 95%, with an average lease term of 4.5 years to expiry. Tenants include Apple, Sephora, Zara, M&S, Bershka, Stradivarius, Next, Lego, Primark, JD Sports, and Lefties. Landsec said the acquisition – which is expected to be funded through an equity issue and existing debt facilities – is in line with its strategy to invest a further £1bn in major retail assets. The acquisition comes as Landsec sees strong operational performance over the past financial year. The group’s lettings over the five months to 31 August 2026 have been ahead of ERV, with relettings and renewals well ahead of previous passing rent. Based on this continued momentum, Landsec continues to expect to deliver around 3-5% growth in like-for-like net rental income for the year ending 31 March 2027. Mark Allan, chief executive […]
