Colliers International UK Retail Research

Keep up to date with the latest real estate research with Colliers International UK's property market reports.

• Central London Retail Health Check, Spring 2012 (PDF 831KB)
  Central London’s retail vacancy rate has edged upwards for the fi rst time in almost three years, although it remains well below that of the UK.
• National Retail Barometer, Winter 2011/12 (PDF 666KB)
  UK retail vacancy rates have fallen for a third consecutive half year, although they remain well ahead of pre-recession levels. At October 2011, 12.7% of units across our sample of 15 towns and cities were empty, down from 13.3% last April.
• Central London Retail Health Check, Autumn 2011 (PDF 268KB)
  The proportion of vacant units and floorspace in our sample of 10 Central London streets has fallen for the fourth consecutive six month period to 1.9% and 0.9% respectively – down from 3.5% and 2.0% in January 2011.
• UK Shopping Centre Development Pipeline, Autumn 2011 (PDF 767KB)
  Only three shopping centres completed in 2011 – the lowest annual number of new developments seen in many years.
• Footfall Focus, Autumn 2011 (PDF 1.35MB)
  High street footfall has fallen, on average, by more than 10% in just three years (excluding Central London).
• Great Britain Retail, Autumn 2011 (PDF 456KB)
  Despite a positive start to the year in terms of sales volumes and footfall (albeit largely generated by the lure of heavy discounting), the fortunes of the UK retail market appear to have taken a turn for the worse in recent months.
• Rob Fay shares his views on the London retail market (Video)
  Will the Central London retail market’s resilient performance sustain? Rob Fay, Director at Colliers, comments on the strong performance of the London retail market, against the fragile national picture
• National Retail Barometer, Summer 2011 (PDF 610KB)
  UK retail vacancy rates have fallen for the second consecutive half year. At April 2011, 13.3% of units across our sample of 15 UK towns and cities were empty, down from 13.7% at October 2010.
• Central London Retail Health Check, March 2011 (PDF 686KB)
  The proportion of vacant retail units in our sample of 10 Central London retail streets has continued to fall over the past six months, down from 4.4% in July 2010 to 3.5% in January 2011.
• UK Shopping Centre Market Review, January 2011 (PDF 470KB)
  The shopping centre investment market improved significantly over the course of 2010, with the overall value of completed and unconditionally exchanged transactions increasing by 72% to £3.51bn compared to £2.04bn in 2009.
• National Retail Barometer, Winter 2010 (PDF 488KB)
  The proportion of vacant retail floorspace in our sample of 15 UK city and town centres has fallen for the fi rst time in four years; down from 11.4% in April 2010 to 10.0% at October. This is the lowest level of void floorspace since October 2008.
• A re-assessment of retail structure, Autumn 2010 (PDF 372KB)
  Significantly, the economic recession has failed to make a serious dent in the overall position with the total number of multiple outlets down just 1.8% since the peak year of 2008.
• UK Shopping Centre Development Pipeline, Autumn 2010 (PDF 873KB)
  Despite dramatic reports of a complete drying up of the development pipeline and fears of a dearth of new good quality floorspace coming on line over the next few years, the amount of shopping centre completions has held up well over the past 12 months.
• Central London Retail Health Check, Autumn 2010 (PDF 1.2MB)
  There is evidence of a widening ‘two tier’ retail market with Central London continuing to significantly outperform the rest of the UK.
• Great Britain Retail, Autumn 2010 (PDF 627KB)
  After a relatively bright start to 2010, dark clouds are forming over the UK retail market, leaving only an isolated patch of sunshine over the capital.
• National Retail Barometer, Summer 2010 (PDF 1.2MB)
  The proportion of vacant retail floorspace in our sample of 15 UK city and town centres continued to rise during the six months to April 2010 to reach 11.4% of stock, up from 11.1% in October 2009.
• Central London Retail Health Check, Spring 2010 (PDF 3.5MB)
  The proportion of vacant retail units in Central London was 4.9% in January 2010, down from 5.6% in July 2009, and much lower than our latest UK vacancy figure of 14.4% from October 2009.
• National Retail Barometer, Winter 2010 (PDF 1.4MB)
  Mind the gap! Prime voids fall: secondary vacancy rates continue to rise – sharply!
• Shopping Centre Development Pipeline, Autumn 2009 (PDF 169KB)
  Despite the severity of the economic recession, the amount of shopping centre floorspace in the pipeline is only 6.3% less than 12 months ago.
• Central London Retail Health Check, Autumn 2009 (PDF 771KB)
  Vacant retail floorspace increases but is still below pre-credit crunch levels.
• Shop Vacancies: Filling the Void! Autumn 09 (PDF 328KB)
  One would think it was easy to measure the changing level of retail vacancy over time – after all, empty shop units are not that difficult to spot! However, the reality is somewhat different. (A version of this paper was published in Centre Retailing in the 7th November 2009 issue of Estates Gazette.)
• Great Britain Retail, Autumn 2009 (PDF 344KB)
  After a year of what can only be described as 'challenging times' for the large majority of retailers, landlords, developers and consumers alike, the latest figures for a number of economic indicators, combined with anecdotal evidence, appear to suggest that a light is visible at the end of the recession tunnel – albeit a distant, hazy glimmer in a seemingly endless cylinder of darkness, but detectable all the same.
• Midsummer Retail Report, 2009 (PDF 6KB)
  What's instore for retail?
• National Retail Barometer, Summer 2009 (PDF 1.3MB)
  The highest void rates continue to be in locations that have had substantial new retail developments in the past 18 months – High Wycombe and Liverpool – where the proportion of retail voids in April 2009 stood at 22.9% and 27.2% respectively. Oxford Street and Kensington High Street continued to outperform the wider UK market, experiencing the lowest rates both in terms of the number and floorspace of voids, as well as the lowest level of vacancy 'churn'.
• Central London Retail Healthcheck, Spring 2009 (PDF 1.5MB)
  Central London retail market bucks national trend. Regent Street was the only location to experience an increase in the proportion of void floorspace between July 2008 and January 2009. Cheapside experienced the highest level of vacancy 'churn' and Brompton Road had the lowest rate.
• National Retail Barometer, Winter 2009 (PDF 770KB)
  Although the number of void units has been increasing steadily, the proportion of vacant floorspace has risen only marginally (to October 2008). This is due to a fall in the average size of void units and additions to overall retail floorspace stock.
• UK Shopping Centre Market Review, 2008 (PDF 108KB)
  The first half of the year saw 18 centres traded with a value of £907m. The second half of the year saw a sharper fall in volumes with only two centres sold, resulting in a total of 20 centres traded at £1.06bn - a fall of 78% compared with 2007.
• Shopping Centre Sustainability Survey, Autumn 2008 (PDF 1,199KB)
  Colliers International Research has carried out an extensive survey of property managers at major UK and Irish shopping centres to establish the scale of green initiatives within the sector.
• Shopping Centre Development Pipeline, Autumn 2008 (PDF 1,273KB)
  A large proportion of the decrease in the amount of potential new shopping centre floorspace can actually be attributed to a more positive rationale – that 2008 has been a record year for shopping centre completions.
• Food Stores, Autumn 2008 (PDF 316KB)
  Food stores receive much corporate and trading coverage but the property market has been poorly covered up until now. This first research paper on the UK food store property market attempts to put this right.
• UK Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 568KB)
  Demand is weak in nearly all sectors of the UK retail market, with very few retailers looking to expand rapidly. Many new shopping centre developments are therefore being pushed back or scrapped.
• Yorkshire and Humber Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 828KB)
  In many larger centres and quality market towns, retail developments have continued to progress due to the need for more, and better configured, space.
• West Midlands Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 755KB)
  Tenants are taking advantage of the current retail climate and are negotiating competitive lease terms. This has led to a softening of rental values.
• Wales Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 1,045KB)
  Landlords will have to curb their rent aspirations and increase incentive packages if they are to fill their shopping centres.
• South West Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 1,352KB)
  In line with the rest of the UK, it is anticipated that rents in the South West will generally remain stagnant over the next 12 months.
• South East Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 1,394KB)
  Very few towns within the region are experiencing rental growth and this trend looks set to continue over the coming year as landlords struggle to find tenants.
• Scotland Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 1,157KB)
  The retail market has swung in the retailers favour with incentive packages improving as landlords try to attract tenants into vacant units.
• North West Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 968KB)
  Despite the economic slowdown, in centres where sensibly-sized and well targeted schemes are being developed, prime retail rents should maintain their existing level over the coming 12 months.
• North East Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 812KB)
  In general, quality accommodation in sought after and high footfall pitches continue to attract interest.
• London Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 686KB)
  Central London retail continues to outperform the rest of the UK. However, the credit crunch and continuing decline in consumer confidence are starting to impact on the capital's footfall and sales.
• East of England Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 1,317KB)
  The economic downturn is causing uncertainty across the region and a number of major town centre schemes may be delayed. However, retail demand for the smaller market towns is holding up.
• East Midlands Retail Market Overview, 2008 (PDF 1,011KB)
  The region has seen the completion of two of the UK's largest shopping centres during the past 12 months, helping to place the East Midlands joint second in the regional growth ranking.
• Central London Retail Health Check, Autumn 2008 (PDF 560KB)
  Despite worsening economic conditions across the UK economy and retail market, Central London retail continues to be resilient to this slowdown. Voids have decreased during 2008 H1, whilst the strength of the euro has attracted more European shoppers to the capital.
• Midsummer Retail Report 2008 (PDF 2,828KB)
  Analysis and forecasting for every retail sector.
• Central London Retail Health Check, Spring 2008 (PDF 2,259KB)
  Over the past 12 months the Central London retail market has proved remarkably resilient to a slowing consumer market and the on-set of the credit crunch. The number of retail voids has remained broadly stable, whilst the proportion of retail floorspace which is vacant has actually fallen.
• London Retail Rents Map 2007 (PDF 2,541KB)
  See our recent Rents Map of London.
• In-town Retail Rents - London 2007 (PDF 2,541KB)
  Responding to demand, the West End is regenerating at last.
• In-town Retail Rents - North West 2007 (PDF 1,261KB)
  Questions arise over whether there will be sufficient demand from occupiers.
• In-town Retail Rents - Scotland 2007 (PDF 2,412KB)
  Uncertain period for the Scottish market.
• In-town Retail Rents - South East 2007 (PDF 1,496KB)
  Significant pipeline of new retail developments.
• In-town Retail Rents - South West 2007 (PDF 1,544KB)
  Good opportunities for rental growth in the right locations.
• In-town Retail Rents - UK 2007 (PDF 1,699KB)
  Analysing the effect of this summer's downpours.
• In-town Retail Rents - Wales 2007 (PDF 1,397KB)
  Retail demand continues for larger towns in North Wales.
• In-town Retail Rents - Yorkshire & Humber 2007 (PDF 1,054KB)
  Fashion operators are looking for more incentives and lower rents.
• Regional Shopping Malls Q3 2007 (PDF 637KB)
  The impact of regional shopping malls on existing town centres: a retrospective view.
• In-town Retail Rents - Midlands 2007 (PDF 1,292KB)
  Retails still very selective and deal-driven.
• UK Shopping Centre Development Pipeline Q3 2007 (PDF 739KB)
  More schemes are completing, or slipping within the development pipeline, than are being added.
• Local Shopping Environment Q1 2007 (PDF 350KB)
  An analysis of one of the least understood parts of the retail market – local shopping.
• Midsummer Retail Report 2007 (PDF 4,556KB)
  Analysis and forecasting of every retail sector.