News
Sunderland’s The Bridges secures 10 new stores in first year of new ownership
22nd April 2026The Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland has secured 10 new lettings, including seven relocations, since its acquisition by M Core in summer 2024. Leading the centre’s leasing activity is the relocation of TK Maxx, which moved from outside the scheme into a large new unit next to Primark in early 2026. This momentum continued with a flurry of national and international arrivals. Two regional firsts were secured, including pretzel brand Auntie Anne’s, which opened its first North East site in September 2025, and pan-Asian noodle chain Chopstix, which launched in December 2025. Subway also made its debut in November 2025. In addition, international jewellery retailer Lovisa joined the scheme in June 2025, while fast‑growing fragrance brand Ya Dubai launched a kiosk earlier in April. June 2025 also marked the return of Tesco Express to Sunderland city centre for the first time since 2022. A number of existing tenants have also continued to demonstrate confidence in the scheme. Greggs relocated and expanded into a larger café‑format unit in February 2025, while additional arrivals include Deichmann, which opened in August 2024, and independent retailer Candy Galore, which joined the scheme in September 2025. Finally, Iceland also invested in its long‑term presence at […]
Deals
Lululemon to double footprint at Manchester’s Trafford Centre
21st April 2026Lululemon is set to open a significantly-upsized store at Trafford Centre, more than doubling its footprint at the Manchester scheme. The athletic apparel brand’s new space will feature 3,700 sq ft of sales space, representing an increased footprint of over 150%. It will offer a range of Lululemon’s apparel, footwear, and accessories, designed to support a range of activities including yoga, Pilates, running, training, golf, and tennis. The upsize follows a period of continued momentum for the athleisure and sportswear category at Trafford Centre, which recorded a year-on-year sales increase of 16% in December 2025. Kate Pearson, director of portfolio leasing at Pradera Lateral, asset manager of Trafford Centre, said: “Lululemon’s decision to relocate and increase its Trafford Centre Manchester location is a powerful endorsement of the strength of our retail proposition. It reflects a clear trend of leading global brands investing in larger, more immersive spaces where they can connect with our highly engaged and diverse customer base. “The continued growth of our athleisure and performance category has firmly positioned Trafford Centre at the forefront of the sector and Lululemon will be a standout brand within it.”
Requirements
Toolstation eyes new sites as it looks to expand London and South East estate
22nd April 2026Toolstation has released its latest property requirements list as it looks to expand its store estate across Greater London and the South East. The trade supplies retailer is seeking units on high streets and trade parks ranging between 2,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft in size, located in prominent and visible roadside locations. Ideal units will be situated in easily accessible locations, with access to parking and loading bays essential. Target locations include: GCW has been retained to find suitable locations.
Insights
Rethinking healthcare delivery: the case for retail parks in easing NHS pressure
10th April 2026By Lauren Chew, senior asset manager at Redevco Pressures on NHS services are well recognised and have prompted an important conversation about how care can be delivered more effectively, accessibly and closer to people’s daily lives. While demand continues to outpace traditional capacity, recent evidence shows that when primary care access is limited, patients often look elsewhere for support. The Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report (October 2025) highlighted this system-wide impact, noting that 6.6% of respondents to the 2025 GP Patient Survey attended A&E because they were unable to contact their GP or were uncertain about next steps. Together, these insights underline the opportunity, and necessity, to innovate beyond conventional healthcare settings and rethink how and where services can best meet patient needs. Herein lies a key opportunity: retail parks are already embedded in everyday life. With high footfall, strong transport links and often free parking, they are uniquely placed to support public health by meeting people where they already are – offering a level of accessibility that many traditional healthcare settings struggle to match. Unlike clinical environments, which can feel formal or intimidating, retail parks are familiar and convenient spaces, making them ideal locations for healthcare initiatives, […]
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
The Entertainer unveils plans to expand store estate
22nd April 2026The Entertainer has unveiled the first half of its expansion plans for the year ahead, as the toy retailer looks to grow its store estate. The retailer’s plans include summer openings for a new, relocated, and 25% larger store at St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff, as well as a new store in Castleford’s Junction 32 outlet development in West Yorkshire. Following the opening of its first outlet store at Dalton Park in County Durham last year, the retailer will also open its first large-scale outlet shop, taking more than 8,000 sq ft of space at the Galleria Outlet in Hatfield from May. The new stores follow a busy year for The Entertainer in 2025, which saw a series of openings, relocations and refurbishments, including the extension of its Churchill Square store in Brighton, the relocation of its Cambridge and Bluewater stores, and new openings in Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays, Aberdeen’s Union Square, Rushden Lakes near Northampton, The Gyle in Edinburgh, and The O2 London. Andrew Murphy, CEO of The Entertainer owner TEAL Group, said: “As Britain’s Toy Shop, we’re constantly identifying opportunities to expand our UK business and improve the quality of our existing physical estate. I’m delighted with how our plans for 2026 are shaping up in that […]
