Retail Property Insights

Retail parks to outperform UK real estate sector, CTI report says

16th October 2026

Retail 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 […]

Alliance Retail Exchange: Retail space is the name of the game in the out-of-town market

2nd October 2026

A 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...

Opinion: Out of town retailers race for space in increasingly “sticky” market

23rd September 2026

The 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.

Comment: Korean brands in the UK – from consumer trend to leasing opportunity

18th September 2026

The rise of Korean brands in the UK is one of the clearest examples of how quickly international consumer trends can translate into mainstream demand. It is no longer a novelty to see Korean brands across food and beverage, supermarkets, and beauty taking space in leading shopping centres and performing strongly.

The rise of ‘treatonomics’: how changing spending patterns are affecting retail destinations

9th July 2026

Times of economic difficulty and reduced consumer confidence have traditionally seen consumers tighten their purse strings, occasionally saving up for a larger purchase. But a recent shift in spending patterns suggests that shoppers are now shunning big-ticket purchases in favour of smaller, less expensive products or experiences. This concept, dubbed ‘treatonomics’, has been observed by Alex Petit, head of research and insights at Global Mutual, within the group’s portfolio of outlet shopping centres. “What we’ve seen is that cost-of-living crisis, combined with people wanting to keep on treating themselves, means that people are suddenly treating themselves on much smaller price points. That’s what we’re seeing with treatonomics”, she tells Completely Retail News. Data from the ONS found that despite increasing costs, sales volumes have remained broadly flat against pre-pandemic levels. This implies a shift towards consumers spending money less often, but instead choosing to make select purchases of higher values. “People are being very considered”, says Petit, “I think it comes from the pandemic as well, when we were all locked at home and we were deprived of a lot of things. People now have a slightly different outlook on life as there’s this hang-up psychologically, from us not being […]

CACI: Shopping parks gaining ground on regional malls

3rd July 2026

The position of best-in-class shopping parks is becoming increasingly comparable to that of regional malls, according to new research from CACI. Analysis of CACI’s Shopper Missions data has looked at a sample of leading regional malls serving cities outside of London, in comparison to some of the UK’s best performing shopping parks, such as Fosse Park in Leicester and Castlepoint in Bournemouth. These schemes feature a more fashion and lifestyle-focused offer, as opposed to the ‘big box’ style of retail parks. CACI said the research has found that the shopping parks are no longer defined solely by convenience-led, targeted visits. Instead, they are becoming dynamic destinations where consumers are able to spend time, dine, browse, and socialise. According to the report, hospitality and socialising are increasingly important to visitors of shopping parks, an indicator of extended and more experience-led trips more akin to those experienced in a larger, covered mall. Of visit purposes, 10% fell into the category of a ‘A Quick Bite’, while a further 20% fell into ‘Leisure & Dining’ and ‘A Day Out’. Despite this, shopping parks have seemingly continued to perform strongly in their traditional convenience role. Approximately 60% of visits still focused on targeted retail...

Comment: Can building technology really deliver meaningful returns in retail?

24th June 2026

James Hallworth, partner and head of building technology at Workman, explains why intelligent building optimisation is no longer the preserve of the office sector; and what shopping centres stand to gain.

Comment: A guide to creating a thriving destination through placemaking

11th June 2026

For owners, operators and brands alike, the challenge is no longer simply attracting occupiers or filling units. It is creating destinations that give people a reason to visit, stay longer and spend more. That is where placemaking has moved from a marketing add-on to a commercial discipline. Understanding this, and responding to it, sits at the centre of how we shape and manage our clients’ assets.

Q&A: How can smaller retail destinations adapt their offerings?

21st May 2026

As middle markets continue to feel squeezed, how can smaller, more regional shopping destinations adapt their offerings to a modern customer base? Peter Everest is managing director of WD Ltd – which owns Dockside at Chatham Maritime. The centre – located in Medway, Kent – comprises restaurants, cafés, bars, a range of high street brands and leisure attractions, as well as everyday conveniences and services such as a nursery and dentist. He spoke to Completely Retail News about how the scheme has evolved to meet new demands: How has retail evolved during your time in the industry? “From 25 year upward only rent reviews to short term leases that allow flexibility and change, the landlord and tenant relationship has become a partnership that now also includes the consumer with all parties looking at sales data on a frequent basis.   “Significant macro-economic events such as the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the more recent Covid pandemic and global unrest have completely reshaped consumer behaviour and many familiar high street brands that failed to adapt have left huge voids across retail space in the UK. The middle market hardly exists and middle market schemes are having to reinvent themselves. “In those intervening years […]

The Gym Group on plans to open 75 new sites: “We’re open to as many opportunities as we can find”

11th May 2026

The Gym Group is “open to as many opportunities as we can find”, says the group’s chief property officer Hamish Latchem, as the operator targets 75 new sites over the next three years. The chain has been steadily increasing its footprint in recent years, having opened 16 new sites last year, up from 12 in 2024. This year, the group is looking to increase its year-on-year growth once again, with an ambition to open between 20 and 22 sites in 2026. “That indicates a clear increase in our aspirations for site openings”, Latchem tells Completely Retail News, “it all ties into our wider strategy.” The Gym Group – which operates over 260 locations across the UK – is working with its retained agent Savills to find suitable units across the UK. Latchem, who was previously national store development director at Aldi, says there’s “no one distinct area” the operator is specifically targeting: “We have such a good mix in our portfolio, including retail parks, mixed-use schemes, and all of these are performing really well for us. We’re open to any of those opportunities, our model is incredibly flexible. “We would love to be on more retail parks and it would...

Comment: How Derbion is taking a unique approach to growing Derby’s leisure offering 

8th May 2026

A strong leisure offering has long been a cornerstone of any successful retail destination, but in recent years it has gained even more importance. The rise of e-commerce and the closure of high street staples like Debenhams, Topshop, and BHS, resulted in significant void space across many shopping centres and leisure has played a key role in filling those voids.

The wellness trend: improving the health of UK high streets?

30th April 2026

From saunas to sound baths, vitamin injections to vitality checks, wellness-led concepts are quickly reshaping the nation’s high streets. The rise has been rapid, but there seems to be plenty of growth potential for the future – creating exciting opportunities in retail property.