Retail commercial real estate

The strengths of the Out of Town retail sector in allowing retailers to meet customers expectations and needs in an ‘omni-channel’ retail world have become increasingly clear to both retailers and investors alike.

Avison Young is one of the UK’s leading out of town retail advisors in the sector with a wealth of experience, knowledge and data. We provide leasing advice to most of the significant landlords in the UK, being retained on approximately 22m sq ft of retail accommodation.

We act for some of the UK’s leading out of town retailers, including JD Sports, Carpetright, Hobbycraft and Halfords. This deep exposure to both the landlord and occupier market provides our clients with invaluable up-to-date market knowledge and data.

Avison Young have a reputation in developing strong, long-term relationships with retailers and work closely with them in developing and executing their strategies to meet their objectives. This requires a detailed understanding of the client’s business needs and often involves the utilisation of market leading technology and data analytics.

We work with clients across the retail sub-sectors including the likes of NatWest Group, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Argos, Wilko and Lush.

Key contacts

Daniel Kent

+44 (0)20 7491 2188

Jessica Hawes

+44 (0)20 7911 2409

Avison Young recognise the increasing challenges involved in retail property management, in operating a large shopping centre and these are ‘operational’ assets as opposed to passive investments . Our wide ranging skills and experience allow us to fully understand the need to maintain occupancy and customer engagement together with effectively reducing occupational costs for the benefit of both landlord and retailers alike.

We are also in an excellent position to advise owners and local stakeholders on the regeneration/repurposing potential of existing assets. This is an increasingly important consideration, as the changing retail environment has a significant impact on the viability of some assets. We understand the need to adopt a medium/long term approach and the requirement to utilise the strengths we have in other disciplines such as planning and to fully involve other stakeholders such as local authorities to deliver maximum economic and social value.

We have successfully worked with the following major sector operators; Around Town, Milligan Retail, Brockton Capital, L&G, Intu, LCP, Waypoint Asset Management, Global Mutual and Columbia Threadneedle with their shopping centre assets and shopping centre investments – helping them to reduce their costs, boost their income and get the most out of their space.

Key contacts

Stephen Cowperthaite

+44 (0)151 471 6734

With our fully integrated network of offices around the country, our clients can unlock national and regional knowledge and expertise and can draw on our end-to-end property services. We are aware of the pressures that high street operators are under, an understanding which feeds into the advice of every one of our retail consultants.

We can assist with the purchase and sale of retail property, advise on relocation, and help clients dispose of a current lease, or we can offer broader strategic on acquisitions and disposals across the country, providing accurate and detailed information on specific local markets, as well as the wider, national commercial picture.

Our clients include numerous high-street brands including Lush, NatWest Group, Mountain Warehouse, Tui, Costa, Sainsbury’s Asda and Build-a-Bear – as well as local businesses and independents around the country who we are proud to have helped grow.

Key contacts

Daniel Kent

+44 (0)20 7491 2188

Rob Fraser

+44 (0)20 3196 2203

Even in such a fast-changing retail environment, the utilisation of physical food-stores continues to play a significant and key role in the UK’s retail landscape.

Our detailed knowledge of this highly specialised sub-sector allows us to provide our clients, who include many of the country’s major food retailers and landlords, advice on every aspect of property and land, leasing development, lease advisory and sale.

Some of the key services we provide for food operators, investors and landlords are:-

• Acquisition and sale
• Valuations, including rental valuations
• Leases, including lease backs and lease re-gears
• Planning and development

Key contacts

Daniel Kent

+44 (0)20 7491 2188

Peter Phillips

+44 (0)20 7317 3783

In todays environment a successful retail destination must offer much more in terms of complementary uses. Restaurants and leisure uses play a vital and increasingly important role in providing an attractive experience to customers. Avison Young has a strong track record in both designing and leasing such complementary offers from Drive Thru coffee shops on retail parks to modern restaurants hubs in regional shopping destinations.

Our close relationships with key leisure occupiers including Mitchells and Butler , Hollywood Bowl and Nuffield Health Clubs allow us to have a strong understanding of changing market trends allowing us to advise both landlord an occupiers.

Avison Young have a very strong track record in advising occupiers and investors across the retail sectors in respect of retail investment and transactions. We utilise our up to date market intelligence and data to advise clients of current market conditions and potential future trends. This allows them to make optimal decisions in respect of buying and selling retail assets and to maximise returns.

We believe in provide considered and detailed advice and this has led us to developing long term relationships with a wide range of key clients.

We have extensive experience across the various sub sectors of retail investment and deal with both purchases of individual assets and portfolios and sales ranging from c £1m - £ 700m.