Retail commercial real estate

The Out of Town sector of the retail property market has remained robust during recent downturns in the wider economy. At Avison Young we are ideally placed to provide specialist advice to landlords and occupiers of retail warehousing.

Our team has an in-depth knowledge of this subsector of the retail property market. We maintain a comprehensive in-house database of retail warehousing throughout the UK, which has been built up over the last 25 years.

Our clients include Legal & General, Federated Hermes, Wesleyan, Aegon, Kout Capital, Argos, Carpetright, Hobbycraft and Currys.

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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 Carpetright, Sue Ryder, Sainsbury's, Argos, Boots UK, Boots Hearingcare, Boots Opticians, BFT and Omniplex.

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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, Columbia Threadneedle, M7 & L&G, 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.

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Our in town team has a full range of in town centre experience and advises retailers and landlords in an ever-changing market on high streets and in shopping centres.

With our fully integrated network of offices around the country, our clients can unlock national and regional knowledge and expertise - and draw on our extensive retail focused property services.

Avison Young’s in town team 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 have advised landlords with asset management initiatives, including tenant mix, and value add development consultancy. We have a clear understanding of the role of retail and leisure in creating a sustainable environment for landlords, developers, occupiers and ultimately the consumer.

Our clients include numerous high-street brands including Argos, Boots, Deichmann, Holland and Barrett, Mountain Warehouse, Omniplex, Sainsburys, Poundstretcher, Sue Ryder. We also represent a number of landlords including, NWG/ Coutts, Topland, M7, Columbia Threadneedle, Realty Income, Clearbell, The NEC Group.

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Avison Young have a long history of working with food store occupiers. The importance of food stores cannot be underestimated from a full line offering, down to a small format convenience store.

In a turbulent retailing environment, food stores have consistently performed well, and occupiers continue to acquire new stores, as well as being an attractive proposition for investors.

We have acted for both occupiers in acquiring new sites, disposing of their leasehold and freehold interests, as well as acting in a professional capacity on rent reviews and lease renewals. We have also acted for investors in buying and selling food store investments.

Avison Young have acted for a range of occupiers in the sector, including Asda, Budgens, Morrisons, and Waitrose, and continue to advise Aldi and Sainsbury’s.

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At Avison Young, we understand that in today’s market a successful retail destination must offer much more in terms of complementary uses. Restaurant and leisure uses play a vital and increasingly important role in providing an attractive experience to customers. The role of leisure is key to the success of more traditional bricks and mortar retailing, giving an enhanced experience to the consumer.

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 restaurant hubs in regional shopping destinations. We also lease some key leisure schemes throughout the country.

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

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Avison Young have a strong track record in advising a range of occupiers and investors on retail investment acquisitions and disposals. We utilise our up-to-date market intelligence and data to provide clients with market leading advice on 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 providing 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.

We have advised a number of clients on both sales and acquisitions, including, AB Carvall, Boots Pension Fund, Quadrant Estates, Sainsbury’s, Wesleyan, LGIM, Canada Life and a number of local authorities and private investors.

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