News
Retail parks to outperform UK real estate sector, CTI report says
16th October 2026Retail parks are forecast to outperform the wider UK real estate sector, according to a new report from Columbia Threadneedle Investments (CTI) and Capital Economics. The Case for UK Retail Parks predicts that retail parks will generate total returns of approximately 8.3% per annum between 2026 and 2030, placing the sector amongst the strongest-performing areas of UK real estate. The research suggests that retail parks offer a compelling combination of attractive yields, improving occupier fundamentals, and structurally constrained supply. The imbalance in demand and supply is subsequently fuelling positive rental growth, supporting capital value growth alongside income returns. According to the paper, retail parks sit at the intersection of three forces shaping UK real estate: consumers’ increasing focus on value; demand for convenience-led retailing; and a structurally constrained development pipeline. Together, these factors are expected to support rental growth and attractive income-led returns over the medium-term. However, the research suggests that the investment case for UK retail parks extends beyond traditional retail, identifying five key trends supporting the sector’s potential to generate long-term income and growth, including: consumer trends favouring retail parks; the increasing diversification of retailers taking space; the difficulty of replicating retail park offerings online; the strengthening of […]
Deals
Greggs signs for 4,300 sq ft across two Affinity destinations
16th October 2026Greggs has signed for a combined 4,300 sq ft across two destinations within the Affinity outlet shopping centre portfolio. The grab-and-go food operator is set to open stores at both Affinity Devon and Affinity Lancashire. The stores will offer Greggs’ staple products including sausage rolls and bakes, alongside breakfast, sandwiches, sweet treats, and coffee. Both stores will also offer seating. James Kevill, asset manager at Global Mutual, said: “Greggs is a huge signing for Affinity. Securing two stores at once is a fantastic result and exactly the kind of brand we want to bring to our destinations. “It’s another strong step forward for Devon and Lancashire, and we can’t wait to get the doors open.” Gillian Long, retail operations director at Greggs, added: “Affinity Devon and Affinity Lancashire are excellent additions to our growing UK estate as we continue to expand and reach more customers across the country. “We’re looking forward to opening our new shops and welcoming customers at both locations later this year.”
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
Alliance Retail Exchange: Retail space is the name of the game in the out-of-town market
2nd October 2026A lack of quality out-of-town space continues to be the challenge faced by retailers in 2026, according to the delegates Completely Retail News spoke to at September’s Alliance Retail Exchange (ARX) event. Demand for retail warehousing space remains high, but many retailers and operators are continuing to find a lack of churn to be the biggest obstacle to their expansion plans. As a result, rents are expected to grow, while landlords and prospective tenants are having to be more creative to create new opportunities in the out-of-town market. This may lead to the development of new stock, the splitting of existing units, or the creation of new formats. The event, which was sponsored by PureGym, was held at The Brewery in London and attracted over 500 delegates, including agents, landlords, and retailers. The morning of the event saw a welcome speech and breakfast before the floor was opened to dealmaking. This was followed by a presentation by Savills’ Sam Arrowsmith and George Trimmer, which looked at the lack of out-of-town space available to retailers. The presentation highlighted how, outside of drive through formats and bespoke discount grocery stores, no new stock is coming to the market. That said, the general […]
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
Family entertainment concept opens at The Liberty Romford
15th October 2026The Liberty Romford, owned and operated by Redical, has welcomed the arrival of family-friendly entertainment concept Little Wonder Street. The brand’s debut site, located on Laurie Walk, spans 11,168 sq ft and features 11 ‘day-in-the-life’ rooms, including a vets, a village fire station, a village dentist, a medical centre, stables, and a sensory room. The space also hosts café facilities for parents, and a soft play area for younger children. The opening follows a strong summer at The Liberty Romford, which welcomed over 1.1 million visitors in both July and August. This year’s footfall at the destination is set to surpass 14 million visits, up 6.4% year-on-year. Dan Tucker, leasing manager at Redical, said: “The debut of Little Wonder Street, following on from the opening of Flying Tiger and ahead of the upcoming launch of Costa Coffee, has come at a pivotal time in the destination’s elevation. As we come off the back of a strong period of summer trade, we know this extension of our family-focused leisure offer will resonate with our local catchment, as consumers seek out more diversity and consideration in their local retail destinations.” Isil Gjoka, director at Is and Ren Studios, added: “Our debut at The Liberty […]
