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Nice to be quoted on the BBC News site in relation to the sale of the Frenchgate Shopping Centre, speaking on behalf of Doncaster Chamber (whilst Daniel Fell is taking a well-deserved week of leave). I know that a few people are sceptical, but this must be seen as good news for the city and a welcome investment into Doncaster. A fresh impetus at The Frenchgate can help to fill vacant units, increase footfall, and deliver new brands. It’s not a silver bullet by itself, but if it brings more shoppers into Doncaster, then the benefits can cascade out to the city more widely.   I know that Dan, and his team at the Chamber, alongside other Team Doncaster stakeholders, are looking forward to working with Michael Murray and Frasers Group on the back of this investment. The news comes at an opportune time, given that a new City Centre Board has been developed, led by Tariq Shah OBE and there are a variety of strategies in play all geared to re-energising the city centre in the months and years ahead. This includes Doncaster 35 – the Chamber’s own, recently launched new business manifesto, with the city centre being one of our four core pillars of focus. We have three top priorities in this space over the next decade: 1.     To create a safe, clean, and accessible city centre. 2.     Update the offer for businesses, residents and visitors. 3.     Innovate in the use of green spaces and the built environment. A new investment in the Frenchgate aligns squarely with this ambition, so let’s seize the opportunity. #doncasterisgreat Harrison Abbott Jade Dyer Fabian Braithwaite Kelvin Fitton Michael Wilkinson Lee Tillman Neil Mallinson 🇬🇧 Sarah Naylor Pippa Mell Andy Morley Gemma Peebles Jill Wood Suzy Brain England OBE C Dir John Rees James Woods Luke Fermor https://lnkd.in/e6chSZQq

Fort Kinnaird has set a new benchmark in 2023 with a record 13.8 million visitors, showcasing the strength of our retail parks model. Sam Brown MRICS, Asset Manager for this 560,000 sq ft leisure and retail destination on the A1 near Edinburgh, recently shared insights with Completely Retail on the growing appeal and potential of accessible, out-of-town retail parks for both customers and a diverse range of occupiers. Fort Kinnaird is home to leading high-street fashion, beauty, health, food and beverage, and leisure brands, alongside thriving local independents and a multiplex cinema. In the past year, visitors frequented the park up to 28 times, with an impressive 96-minute dwell time. This has driven a remarkable 78% retail spend conversion rate and a 67% average conversion rate in catering. As one of the UK's largest retail park owners and operators, British Land holds 8% of the market and continues to see strong leasing momentum, with 99% occupancy across our portfolio. Find out more about leasing at Fort Kinnaird and our ongoing plans for 2024: https://lnkd.in/euHSpRiV #CommitAndCollaborate #RetailParks #Retail #RealEstate

🟢 TK MAXX RECOMMITS TO NORWICH'S CASTLE QUARTER 🟢 💼 TK Maxx has renewed its lease at Norwich's Castle Quarter, committing to a new ten-year term with a five-year break clause. The retailer occupies a 23,000 sq ft store. 💼 🏬 This move aligns with Castle Quarter's strategy to blend retail with leisure and social experiences, offering a diverse mix that includes brands like Boots, Flying Tiger, and The Entertainer. The shopping centre is enhancing its appeal with leisure operators like Boom Battle Bar and Putt Putt Social. 🏬 💥 The repositioning strategy has led to a significant uptick in footfall and trading figures, with 75% of tenants reporting higher year-on-year sales. The site's shift towards leisure has notably increased visitor engagement. 💥

Visiting various towns and cities around the UK there is a stark contrast between those who are embracing independent stores and businesses and those that are still clinging on to the high street chain model of the past. Personally I love to visit towns where the smaller chain stores sit side by side with independent businesses whether that’s small boutiques, coffee shops or stores that are great at delivering quality products alongside a great customer experience. The towns and cities that are less fun to visit are those that still have the empty units from our pre-pandemic world. Especially if they are facing the double whammy of expensive car parking costs and poor public transport infrastructure. In the North East where I live there is a huge variety of interesting towns and cities to visit. From the bustling, exciting city centre of Newcastle to the small boutiques and great customer service that a town like Morpeth or Hexham offers, to the biggest shopping centre in Europe, the Metrocentre. We really are spoilt for choice in the breadth of experience that our local towns can offer. I love shopping online but I don’t think I’ll ever give up on our UK high street. Who knows where it will evolve to next but I’m hopeful that it’ll deliver a great experience of shopping, hospitality and community. #UKHighStreet #SupportLocal #ShoppingExperience

SOLD! 7-Eleven, New Lambton (Newcastle) NSW - $6,200,000 On behalf of our valued clients, Burgess Rawson is thrilled to announce the successful sale of 7-Eleven, New Lambton (Newcastle) for $6,200,000 reflecting a 6% yield. This set and forget investment opportunity featured a renewed 10 year lease to 2034 to globally renowned convenience retail giant 7-Eleven with over 760 stores nationally, fixed 3% annual rent increases and a strategic position across from the home of the Newcastle Knights, McDonald Jones Stadium. The convenience retail sector has seen heightened investor demand nationally for strategically located investment assets which offer secure long term net leases to Australia's largest convenience retail tenants. For more information on this transaction or to view our upcoming Investment Portfolio opportunities, please feel free to contact myself or Yosh Mendis. Geoff Sinclair M: 0451 462 759 E: gsinclair@burgessrawson.com.au

SOLD! 7-Eleven, New Lambton (Newcastle) NSW - $6,200,000 On behalf of our valued clients, Burgess Rawson is thrilled to announce the successful sale of 7-Eleven, New Lambton (Newcastle) for $6,200,000 reflecting a 6% yield. This set and forget investment opportunity featured a renewed 10 year lease to 2034 to globally renowned convenience retail giant 7-Eleven with over 760 stores nationally, fixed 3% annual rent increases and a strategic position across from the home of the Newcastle Knights, McDonald Jones Stadium. The convenience retail sector has seen heightened investor demand nationally for strategically located investment assets which offer secure long term net leases to Australia's largest convenience retail tenants. For more information on this transaction or to view our upcoming Investment Portfolio opportunities, please feel free to contact Yosh Mendis or Geoff Sinclair. Yosh Mendis 📱 0434 413 188 📧 ymendis@burgessrawson.com.au

DE COMMERCIAL DELIVERS TIMELY SHOT IN THE ARM FOR ILKLEY RETAIL MARKET DE Commercial has completed 2 retail lettings in Ilkley on behalf of private clients giving a much needed boost to the retail sector. The firm secured the deals on Leeds Road, where the retail offer is significantly improving and rivalling parts of Brook Street with a variety of new businesses. Richard Heslop, owner and director, indicated that Leeds Road was now becoming a go to destination for businesses due to the the volume of traffic and the prominence of the unit. Leeds Road is within walking distance of the main town centre car park but the properties also offer a shop window for marketing purposes given the level of vehicle movements. #ilkleyretail#commercial property#decommercial

🏗️ Think John Lewis is just about department stores? Think again! They're diving headfirst into the rental market with a £500 million plan! 🏠 The retail giant, is making waves by venturing into buy-to-let investments. But they're not alone and join the likes of Asda and Lloyds Bank! 🏦 🔑 Key Points: - 320 rental flats + 30 affordable homes above a Waitrose in London - First planning approval secured in Bromley - £42M profit retailer partnering with Abrdn for a 1,000-home vision - Planning to build 10,000 rental homes in the next decade - Utilising space above Waitrose supermarkets - Offering a "John Lewis quality" living experience 💬 "This is a milestone for us," says Katherine Russell, head of JL's rental strategy. "Building for rent means new projects can come to life quickly." Asda also join the party with 1,500 homes planned 🛒 🏦 Lloyds Bank continue their drive to become the UK's largest private Landlord with their aggressive aquisition plan to reach 50,000 homes by 2030 in their private rental business, Citra Living. Still think Buy-To-Let is dead? 💀 These big companies are in the business of making money so why are they diversifying into the residential rental market? 🏘📈 #wealth #income #investment #passiveincome #ukpropertyinvestment #ukproperty #ukpropertyinvesting #property #portfoliobuilder #financialfreedom #propertyinvestment #wealthcreation #wealthbuilding #propertyinvesting

Fort Kinnaird – Edinburgh’s leading retail park   Edinburgh’s leading retail and leisure park, Fort Kinnaird, continues to go from strength-to-strength.    Through its proactive asset management programme, it saw both footfall and retail sales increase over the last 12 months as shoppers flocked to experience its market-leading blend of retail and leisure. 160,000 sq ft of space has been recently leased via a combination of new lettings, renewals and regears, and there is a further 25,000 sq ft currently under offer. New retailers include MANGO, Holland & Barrett, Pandora, The Fragrance Shop and adidas, which opened its new ‘Pulse’ concept store on 28 June – its first in the UK. River Island upsized and opened its new store format and several other retail brands undertook store refits.  Fort Kinnaird also continued with its commitment to providing affordable space to the The Leith Collective CIC, a community interest company specialising in sustainable retail and supporting the local community, something which sits at the heart of the park’s ethos too.    There is an ongoing programme of investment confirmed to carry out upgrades to shop fronts and the public realm in the coming months and continued conversations with the most exciting local and national retail and leisure providers to ensure Fort Kinnaird stays at the front of the pack.    Sam Brown, British Land Asset Manager for Fort Kinnaird, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the success of Fort Kinnaird over the last 12 months, proving the concept of best-in-class, experience-led retail parks to drive retail sales performance and leasing demand. We’ve been working hard to drive this success and don’t plan on stopping now. Over the next six to 12 months, we have a number of exciting new opportunities due to come to fruition which we can’t wait to share with our retailers and customers alike.” Find available units at Fort Kinnaird: https://lnkd.in/euHSpRiV