Aldi is stepping up its growth plans ahead of the festive season, confirming it will open 16 new supermarkets by 12 December. The programme forms part of a £650m investment in its UK estate during 2025 and sits within a wider £1.6bn commitment over the next two years, as the grocer targets around 40 new stores annually. The latest openings will extend Aldi’s reach into busy urban locations and growing commuter towns, bringing more shoppers within easy reach of the discounter’s low-price offer.New stores are planned for: Location Area / Street Philadelphia Tyne and Wear Liverpool Pendle Drive Market Rasen Gallamore Lane Kirkintilloch McGavigans Road (Scotland) Billericay Queens Park Avenue London Kentish Town Arbroath Dundee Road Cheadle The Green Baillieston Boghall Road Hove Old Shoreham Road Pershore Pershore Market Gloucestershire Riverside Retail Park Northallerton North Yorkshire Uxbridge Harefield Road Daventry Northamptonshire London Old Kent Road The roll-out continues Aldi’s strategy of adding capacity where demand is strongest, with a blend of high-street, retail park and neighbourhood sites. The investment will also support local employment and supply chains in the run-up to Christmas, traditionally the busiest period for the sector. Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi, said: “At Aldi, we’re focused on making affordable, high-quality food accessible to as many people as possible – and opening new stores is at the heart of how we do that. Launching 16 new stores in just over five weeks is a significant milestone for our business and a clear demonstration of the pace and ambition behind our growth plans. It means more communities will benefit from Aldi’s value and choice in the weeks ahead and beyond.” With grocery price sensitivity still front of mind for many households, Aldi’s expansion underscores the competitive pressure on the UK’s food retailers. The imminent openings will give the chain a broader national footprint as it prepares for the key Christmas trading period and positions the business for sustained growth into 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Places for London, Transport for London’s property company, has added a prominent Brixton retail block to its growing portfolio as it continues to invest in income-generating assets across the capital. The properties, at 421–457 Brixton Road, sit directly adjacent to Brixton Underground Station and include a parade of well-known high street brands. Current tenants include HSBC, Five Guys, Sainsbury’s and Argos, with the acquisition also taking in an associated service yard to the rear. Places for London said the deal supports its strategy to unlock long-term revenue streams that can be reinvested back into London’s transport network. By owning and managing well-located commercial assets, the company aims to generate sustainable income while helping to maintain vibrant, accessible high streets. The Brixton purchase is the organisation’s third major retail acquisition in recent years, following previous deals for Buck Street Market in Camden and 19–33 Liverpool Street in the City. Together, these assets form part of a broader programme to make better use of TfL’s estate, support local economies and deliver value for Londoners. TW Keil acted on behalf of the vendor, while Green & Partners advised Places for London on the transaction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The new “best-in-class” store sees the retail footprint increased by over 35%, with investment in new Beauty Studios, luxury fragrance counters, a nurse clinic, and an enhanced pharmacy. Superdrug, the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer, has completed the expansion of its popular store in Overgate, Dundee, increasing the footprint by over 35% from 7,125 sq. ft to 9,739 sq. ft. Having taken over the occupancy of the adjacent former Clintons store, which has relocated in Overgate, Superdrug has created a significantly enhanced ground floor presence, and one which now forms a prime corner position. The new store is a combination of the existing and the new site. The expansion brings Overgate customers a range of new offerings including: Commenting on the Superdrug expansion, Malcolm Angus, Centre Manager, Overgate says: “We are delighted to announce the Superdrug expansion is officially complete with the new store now offering a significantly elevated shopping experience for our customers. The introduction of new Beauty Studios, each offering a range of popular and affordable beauty treatments, is an exciting development, and the enhancement of Superdrug’s pharmacy with a new face-to-face private nurse clinic brings a welcome personalised healthcare service. “This commitment by Superdrug is a resounding vote of confidence in Overgate, and the future of bricks-and-mortar retail in the centre. There is no doubt this new store will prove highly popular with our customers.” Clare Jennings, Property Director at Superdrug, added: “This store extension in Overgate, Dundee is a significant milestone in expanding Superdrug’s presence locally, allowing us to offer an even broader selection of products and services to our valued customers. By upgrading the store, we’re now able to offer a more modern shopping experience – featuring top health and beauty brands, a premium fragrance section, and our in-store Beauty Studio. This new extension allows us to support local employment in Overgate and the surrounding communities.” The Overgate expansion is part of Superdrug’s major nationwide investment to modernise, refurbish and extend 65 of its strongest performing stores this year (2025), creating a “best-in-class” retail experience for customers. Furthermore, there is a focus on ensuring the site is as sustainable and energy efficient as possible, driven by Superdrug’s successful Planet, People and Products store scheme. The commitment by Superdrug to expand its Overgate store is the latest positive development for the centre following the recent opening of FRASERS in June, 2025. Frasers Group acquired Overgate Shopping Centre in 2023, underlining its confidence in the enduring power of bricks-and-mortar retail. Visit Overgate Shopping Centre at Overgate, Dundee, DD1 1UQ. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

High street favourite Bodycare is preparing for a major return, with plans to open up to 50 new stores across the UK following its recent acquisition by Charles Denton, the former chief executive of The Body Shop. The beauty and personal care retailer, which went into administration last month, was forced to close all of its remaining stores after years of trading challenges. Now, a new chapter is about to begin as Denton looks to revive the much-loved brand and bring it back to high streets – starting with a first wave of re-openings scheduled for early 2026. The relaunch will initially focus on the north west of England, where Bodycare has historically enjoyed a strong following. Between 30 and 50 new stores are planned, though each opening will depend on landlord approval. Charles Denton, who has a strong background in retail transformation, expressed his confidence in the brand’s potential to make a successful comeback. He said: “Bodycare is much-loved and trusted – it matters deeply to the communities it serves. We now have the mandate to bring stores and jobs back by transforming Bodycare’s rich legacy into a modern, scalable and profitable business.” Founded in 1970, Bodycare built its reputation by offering affordable health and beauty products to shoppers across the UK, particularly in town centres and retail parks. Its straightforward approach and value-driven offering made it a household name, especially in the north of England. The new ownership aims to retain Bodycare’s community-focused ethos while modernising the brand for today’s retail landscape. This will likely include refreshed store designs, updated product ranges and an improved digital presence to better connect with contemporary shoppers. Nick Holloway, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, welcomed the acquisition, commenting: “We are pleased to hand Bodycare to an experienced new owner with a clear plan to restart operations. We wish the business every success in the future.” With its new direction, strong leadership and focus on both legacy and innovation, Bodycare looks poised to re-establish itself as a key player in the UK beauty retail scene – proving that even the most embattled high street brands can find a way back to life. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

MINISO is set to open its 50th UK store at Centre:mk in Milton Keynes, marking a milestone in the lifestyle brand’s rapid expansion since entering the market in 2019. The new 1,550 sq ft unit on Silbury Boulevard will stock fan-favourite collections from Hello Kitty and Friends, Sylvanian Families, Disney and Pokémon, alongside a rotating line-up of vinyl plush pendants, blind boxes, surprise bags, toys, beauty, lifestyle accessories and snacks. The Centre:mk signing underscores MINISO’s strategy of targeting high-footfall destinations while steadily building a presence on prime high streets. It follows a flurry of 2025 launches, including Birmingham’s Bullring (opened 10 October), Glasgow Central (3 September), Bromley and Livingston (both 22 August), Telford Centre (11 July), Edinburgh Princes Street (21 March) and Kingston’s Clarence Street (7 March). Earlier flagships in London’s Oxford Street, Manchester’s Trafford Centre and Edinburgh’s Princes Street have helped cement brand visibility and supported a national roll-out of around 60 locations to date. For Centre:mk—one of the region’s dominant shopping destinations—the deal adds another crowd-pulling name to a tenant mix geared towards family and youth appeal. Kevin Duay, centre director at Centre:mk, said: “MINISO’s decision to bring its popular brand to Centre:mk is a reflection of the centre’s vast catchment area, high footfall and our ability to attract global retailers, and a clear endorsement in both Milton Keynes and the strength of Centre:mk as a dominant regional centre.” MINISO’s UK playbook blends fast-fit, merchandising-led store design with frequent product drops and licensed collaborations that fuel repeat visits. Recent openings suggest the retailer is balancing enclosed malls—where event-led activations can drive dwell—with town-centre locations that tap commuter and weekend footfall. The brand is also enhancing its digital offer, with plans to introduce click-and-collect to bridge online discovery and in-store purchase. For landlords and local authorities, the 50th-store announcement signals continued demand from value-led, impulse-friendly retailers that trade effectively across seasons and respond quickly to social media trends. For consumers, Centre:mk’s upcoming opening offers an accessible dose of “kawaii” culture and small-ticket gifting—timed neatly for peak shopping periods. Fit-out is expected to emphasise simple wayfinding, high-density front-of-house display and efficient back-of-house logistics to support rapid replenishment. With the milestone now set for Milton Keynes, MINISO’s UK footprint looks set to keep growing through 2026, combining shopping-centre anchors with targeted high-street infill and an increasingly omnichannel proposition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Asda is stepping up its convenience store expansion drive with the launch of nine new Asda Express branches this week, seven of which are opening across London. The move underlines the retailer’s ambition to strengthen its footprint in high-footfall city locations, residential areas, and key transport hubs. London shoppers will soon find new Asda Express stores at Tower Bridge, Greenwich, Limehouse Station, Harringay, Deptford, Whetstone, and within the former Arsenal FC club shop at Finsbury Park Station. Beyond the capital, Asda will also open sites in Southampton and Stoke, enhancing its reach across southern and central England. Each Asda Express offers a broad range of ambient and chilled groceries, alongside beers, wines and spirits. Customers can also benefit from additional services including Costa Coffee machines, ATMs, Amazon collection and return points, and on-demand delivery through Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo. Joseph Sutton, vice president of Asda Express, foodservice and fuel, said the new stores are an important step in bringing Asda’s value proposition to more communities. “We’re thrilled to be opening nine new Express stores this week, including seven in London – an area where we have traditionally had less of a presence in convenience,” he explained. “These openings are a key part of our strategy to bring Asda’s unbeatable value to more urban areas and residential communities across the UK. We know customers have looked forward to these stores opening for a long time, and we’re delighted to welcome them in and offer outstanding value across their favourite products.” Earlier in October, Asda opened a new Express store in Castleford, marking the start of the latest phase of its rollout. The retailer plans to open a further ten stores before the end of the year and has a strong pipeline of additional sites lined up for 2026, reinforcing its rapid growth in the convenience sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading structural and civil engineering consultancy provides innovative solutions for one of Next’s largest retail destinations. Perega has successfully completed comprehensive structural engineering works for the new flagship Next store at Lakeside Shopping Centre in south Essex. The store, which is now open to the public, showcases the consultancy’s ability to deliver innovative and complex solutions for large-scale retail developments. The new Next store is one of the largest in the company’s portfolio and required bespoke engineering to bring its unique architectural vision to life. Perega’s work included designing and installing custom balustrade and structural glazing systems, a substantial customer staircase with a handrail, and carefully engineered shopfronts. Presenting unique engineering challenges, the project included complex load-bearing requirements and the need for seamless integration with the existing building. To meet these demands, Perega worked to a tight deadline to ensure the frameworks were done ahead of the summer launch date. This included developing bespoke detailing solutions, particularly for integrating the balustrade base with existing steelwork, demonstrating the team’s ability to deliver innovative technical solutions on a tight schedule. Jake Parsell, Structural Engineer and Project Lead at Perega, said: “This was a particularly exciting project that challenged our team to develop innovative solutions for integrating new structural elements with existing building systems. The scale and complexity of the works, combined with the tight timeline, required close collaboration and creative problem-solving. We’re delighted to have contributed to what has become a truly impressive flagship retail destination.” The new store features a modern design with open skylight windows, expansive atriums, and six customer entrances. The successful delivery of the Next Lakeside project reinforces Perega’s growing reputation in the retail sector, building on its established expertise across healthcare, education, and commercial developments. The project timeline, spanning ten months, demonstrates the team’s efficiency in managing fast-track retail developments. For more information, please visit perega.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Womenswear brand Quiz has announced plans to open up to 10 new stores across the UK over the next year, as the retailer continues to rebuild momentum following its operational restructuring earlier in 2024. The fashion chain, which currently operates more than 150 stores and concessions nationwide, is focusing on expansion in new locations — with particular attention on London and the south of England. The new stores will reflect Quiz’s latest retail concept, first introduced at its recently opened 1,800 sq ft shop in Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow. The updated format features refreshed fittings, digital screens and enhanced product displays designed to create a more engaging shopping experience. Sheraz Ramzan, chief executive of Quiz Clothing, said the changes mark a clear step forward for the brand. “We have evolved our retail formula at Quiz and, encouraged by a strong uplift in like-for-like retail sales over the summer, we are confident the new strategy is working,” he explained. “The plan is to now expand in the right locations through units that provide the best possible backdrop for our extended product offering. This will be underpinned by an improved capex and return model with more flexible lease terms.” The retailer’s move signals renewed confidence in its physical store network, following a challenging period for many fashion brands adapting to shifting shopping habits and economic pressures. With a refreshed store design and renewed focus on flexibility, Quiz aims to strengthen its high street presence while aligning its brand experience across both digital and in-person channels. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals