Superdrug has opened its largest store in the South West at Cribbs Mall, Bristol, unveiling an 8,901 sq ft space that strengthens the centre’s health and beauty offer and underlines the retailer’s continued investment in bricks and mortar. The unit has a direct entrance from the mall and showcases Superdrug’s latest experience-led format. A key feature is the Beauty Playground, now one of around 30 locations nationwide to host the concept, where shoppers can test products, discover new brands and get guidance from trained brand ambassadors. The fit-out also includes a full Beauty Studio providing brow, nail and piercing services, supported by an in-store clinic offering seasonal treatments such as flu jabs. Clare Jennings, property director at Superdrug, said the Cribbs Mall flagship demonstrates the brand’s focus on larger, service-rich spaces that broaden customer choice and deliver a modern, energy-efficient store environment for the region. For Cribbs Mall, the opening represents a significant upsize by one of its strongest performers, enabling a broader range and deeper services under one roof. From a property perspective, the larger footprint supports clearer category zoning, back-of-house efficiency and higher service capacity at peak, aligning with the centre’s wider programme to enhance shopper experience and extend dwell time. Sovereign Centros by CBRE, asset manager for Cribbs Mall, said the new unit cements the destination’s position as the regional home of health and beauty, with Superdrug’s expansion illustrating how leading brands are investing to elevate their physical estates. The launch adds further momentum to the centre’s tenant investment cycle and gives Superdrug a prominent South West showcase for its latest store design, combining retail, services and consultation in a single, highly visible location. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

British travel brand Antler has announced the opening of a new UK store, the first since the brand reimagination in 2023. Located at 100 Regent Street, London, the new flagship store will open early 2026 and marks a pivotal moment for the brand. Spanning two floors and over 2,400 sq ft, the store will be designed as a unique retail experience. This will be the first standalone UK location that brings to life Antler’s new brand identity in a physical setting and follows the success of a one year residency on  Spring Street, New York, and a pop up store in Selfridges London launch, last year. Situated at the southern end of London’s prestigious shopping district, Antler’s will join other global British brands Burberry and Mulberry in its premium retail positioning. The Regent Street opening signals the beginning of Antler’s wider retail investment strategy, with a goal to open at least three stores in the UK and internationally over the next three years. This commitment reflects Antler’s confidence in the relevance of physical retail and its importance in deepening customer connections as the brand continues to grow.  The store’s design will blend heritage and modernity, reflecting Antler’s long-standing legacy through a contemporary lens. Using materials that complement the surrounding architecture and environment, the space will allow customers to explore Antler’s full range of luggage, bags, and accessories. Kirsty Glenne, Antler’s Managing Director, said, “Opening our first UK store on London’s iconic Regent Street is a defining moment for Antler. When we began the brand and business transformation journey 3 years ago, we couldn’t have envisioned a more fitting location. Regent Street’s global reputation and rich history make it the ideal setting for the next phase of our brand journey in our home market. It truly puts Antler back on the map in a significant way.” Laura Thursfield, Retail Leasing Director at Crown Estate adds “We are delighted to be welcoming Antler to open their UK flagship store on Regent Street. This iconic store will be in good company alongside other leading British brands including Burberry, Mulberry and Jo Malone. We are excited to support Antler on the next step of their journey in this globally renowned shopping destination. This new addition follows our recent acquisition of 100 Regent Street and will be integral to the delivery of our wider plans for Regent Street and St James’s.” This flagship store marks an important moment in Antler’s ambitious growth strategy, reinforcing its presence in the UK while complementing its international expansion efforts. Since the 2023 rebrand, Antler has celebrated a series of significant milestones, most notably achieving double-digit sales growth over the last three years in addition to acquiring the U.S. luxury luggage brand Paravel, each strengthening its vision of becoming a global house of travel brands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Superdrug has officially reopened in Metrocentre’s lower Red Mall in a brand new, 10,000 sq ft unit, unveiling the retailer’s latest store design and an expanded, service led offer. The upsized space introduces treatment studios and cosmetic services alongside a curated line up of regionally exclusive brands, including sought after Korean and Japanese skincare. A standout is an exclusive edit from PURESEOUL, The Home of K beauty, bringing trending ranges to the North East under one roof. The fit out focuses on experience, clarity and efficiency. Updated wayfinding, refreshed finishes and energy efficient LED lighting support a brighter, easier to shop environment, while the added services shift the store towards a clinic and beauty studio model that encourages longer dwell and repeat visits. The result is a modern, flexible box designed to accommodate new categories and pop up brand moments without major interventions. The relaunch forms part of a wider wave of landlord and occupier investment at Metrocentre. Superdrug is one of ten established retailers committing capital to the destination this year, contributing to more than 76,000 sq ft of refurbished and expanded space across the campus. Recent activity includes projects by Boots, HMV, Kuoni and LEGO, underscoring continued confidence in the scheme and the role of high performing regional malls in multichannel retail strategies. Environmental performance and responsible delivery have been threaded through the programme. Across recent AS Watson projects at Metrocentre, specifications have prioritised energy efficient lighting, low waste fit out practices and the retention or reuse of existing elements where feasible. Sister brand The Perfume Shop’s newly refitted experiential store at the centre highlights the approach: ISO 14001 accredited principal contractors, LED throughout, and a permanent perfume bottle recycling service that encourages customers to return empties in store. Superdrug’s new concept aligns to the same ESG direction of travel, with lower energy operations, durable finishes and adaptable layouts that reduce future strip out. From a property standpoint, the move consolidates Superdrug’s position as a wellness anchor in Red Mall, adding scale and specialist services to complement neighbouring fashion and lifestyle brands. The larger floorplate enables clearer adjacencies, with skincare, fragrance and studios together, while back of house improvements support faster replenishment and a broader SKU count. Regionally exclusive K and J Beauty ranges, front of house services and upgraded lighting combine to drive footfall and conversion, strengthening the unit’s role as both a retail destination and a platform for new brand launches. For Metrocentre, the project is another proof point for targeted reinvestment, right sizing, remerchandising and upgrading well trading units to modern specifications that lift performance and extend asset life. For Superdrug, the Gateshead flagship demonstrates how the chain is evolving its physical estate, with bigger footprints, richer services and a stronger sustainability baseline, to meet changing customer expectations while supporting the wider AS Watson portfolio on site. With the doors now open, the expanded store adds fresh momentum to Metrocentre’s 2025 upgrade cycle and gives North East shoppers a best in region Superdrug experience built around service, exclusivity and lower impact design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

DTZ Investors has completed the £58 million acquisition of a freehold hotel and retail block in London’s West End. The asset, located at 120-134 Tottenham Court Road, 48-50 Grafton Way and 5 Warren Street, extends to around 174,575 sq ft and is anchored by a 330-room hotel. The hotel is leased to Radisson Blu on a long-term agreement running until 2163, with fixed five-yearly uplifts. The tenant is currently investing approximately £7.5 million in a phased refurbishment of the property. Alongside the hotel, the block includes around 26,365 sq ft of retail accommodation across 12 units, let to a mix of occupiers including Tesco, Boots, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Caffè Nero, Paul, Rosa’s Thai and Wasabi. Tony Gibby, senior director at DTZ Investors, said: “This acquisition provides long-term, inflation-linked income from a prime West End location. The combination of a landmark hotel and resilient high-street retail offers both secure income and asset management potential, aligning with our strategic objectives.” RX London, Savills and Forge advised DTZ Investors, while Knight Frank acted for the vendor. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Landsec is reshaping its development priorities, pausing new office schemes in favour of a major push into retail acquisitions worth £1bn. Chief executive Mark Allan used the company’s latest investor day to set out the shift, highlighting stronger opportunities for growth in shopping centres compared with new-build commercial offices. The strategy marks a decisive pivot for one of the UK’s biggest developers, which has already seen success from previous retail investments. Over the next three years, Landsec plans to scale back its office-led pipeline to around £200m by mid-2026. In the same period, it will recycle about £2bn of capital by selling office assets, redirecting the funds into retail expansion. Allan told investors: “Having sold £295m of offices well ahead of schedule, Landsec intends to accelerate further capital recycling over the next 12–18 months, to reinvest in major retail.” The move signals a halving of office development in the medium term, reflecting shifting market dynamics. Yet Landsec insists its wider ambitions remain intact, particularly in residential. The group is pressing ahead with regeneration at Mayfield in Manchester, along with proposals for new homes above Lewisham shopping centre in south London. By focusing on retail at scale while maintaining a foothold in housing, Landsec is betting on consumer-led growth to drive the next chapter of its portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Aldi has set out an ambitious plan to open 80 new UK stores over the next two years as part of a £1.6bn investment in its estate, sharpening competition on the high street and widening access to low-cost groceries. The supermarket says 21 branches will open in the next 13 weeks alone, including Shoreditch in London, Durham in the North East and Kirkintilloch in Scotland. The expansion builds on momentum from the past year and supports Aldi’s long-term ambition to operate 1,500 stores nationwide. It currently runs 1,060 supermarkets across the UK, meaning the programme would take the discounter a significant step closer to its target while improving geographic coverage in areas where consumer demand remains strong. Earlier this year Aldi named 20 priority locations where it is actively seeking sites, among them Bromley and Ealing in Greater London, South Shields in Tyne and Wear, and Witney in Oxfordshire. The retailer’s approach typically focuses on convenient, accessible plots that can serve dense residential catchments, pairing everyday value with straightforward store layouts and ample parking. Financial results for the 12 months to December 2024 underline the scale of the operation. Sales rose to £18.1bn, up from £17.9bn in 2023, reflecting sustained shopper appetite for keen pricing and own-label innovation. The latest investment aims to lock in that loyalty by making stores easier to reach and by refreshing parts of the existing estate alongside new openings. Giles Hurley, chief executive officer for Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Since we opened our first UK store over 35 years ago, we’ve brought high-quality, affordable groceries to almost 800 towns and cities, but there are hundreds more communities that don’t have an Aldi nearby. We’re more determined than ever to meet that demand, and that’s why we’re investing a record £1.6bn over the next two years, to bring Aldi prices closer to millions more customers.” The near-term pipeline of 21 stores suggests a balanced mix of city, town and suburban locations, a pattern that has helped the brand broaden its appeal from weekly family shops to top-up missions and convenience-led baskets. A steady drumbeat of openings over two years should also allow supply chains, recruitment and training to ramp in step with customer demand. For landlords and local authorities, Aldi’s plans signal continued confidence in bricks-and-mortar retail, especially in neighbourhoods that value everyday essentials at competitive prices. For shoppers, the outcome is straightforward: more choice on where to buy the weekly shop, and greater pressure on rivals to keep prices sharp. As the cost of living remains a live concern for many households, the discounter’s expansion will be closely watched across the sector. With a clear store-opening timetable and significant capital committed, Aldi is positioning itself to capture more market share while staying true to the formula that has underpinned its rise: simplicity, efficiency and value. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

British Land has signed 16,000 sq ft of new retail and dining deals at Broadgate Central, next to Liverpool Street Station, taking the ground and lower floors of the newly completed 1 Broadgate to 79% let or under offer. The latest line-up blends fragrance, fashion and fast-casual dining. Headliners include Boots Fragrance – the retailer’s first dedicated fragrance-only boutique – alongside Molton Brown, Swiss chocolatier Läderach and Parisian patisserie Ladurée. On the food side, NOTTO To Go, Sandwich Sandwich and Sushinoya are set to join the mix. Menswear brand MOSS, hair removal clinic Strip and grooming specialist Murdock London round out the signings. They will sit alongside fashion names already secured for the scheme, such as Mango, Luca Faloni, Hobbs and Whistles, plus Vagabond wine bar. Across the wider estate, Broadgate now offers 289,000 sq ft of retail, hospitality and leisure, with an established roster that includes Eataly, Los Mochis London City, Everyman, Monica Vinader, Tommy Hilfiger and Space NK. Kelly Cleveland, head of real estate and investment at British Land, said the campus is seeing “fantastic leasing momentum”, with a diverse mix of brands choosing Broadgate to grow their central London presence. “These latest lettings build on recent announcements and reflect the enduring appeal of Broadgate’s location, connectivity and curated offer,” she added. With a strong pipeline and fresh anchors in fragrance, fashion and food, British Land’s latest signings continue the repositioning of Broadgate as a seven-day destination for office workers, locals and visitors alike. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Hammerson has signed a second flagship deal with UNIQLO, bringing the Japanese retailer to Cabot Circus in Bristol. The two-storey unit will provide around 15,000 sq ft of tradable space and stock womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, including the brand’s signature LifeWear collections—available in the South West for the first time. The letting builds on leasing momentum at Cabot Circus, where M&S is due to open later this year and ODEON is set to follow in 2026. It also follows Hammerson’s agreement with UNIQLO at Birmingham’s Bullring earlier this year, with the brand making its Midlands debut next month. Paul O’Brien, director of leasing and commercialisation at Hammerson, said UNIQLO’s investment in both destinations “highlights the confidence that leading retailers have in Hammerson, and the unmatched quality of our destinations,” adding that prime, city-centre locations continue to attract “best-in-class global brands seeking regional flagships”. Alessandro Dudech, chief operating officer of UNIQLO UK, said the move forms part of a nationwide expansion across physical stores and ecommerce. “We are pleased to introduce UNIQLO to the communities and visitors in the South West at Bristol’s Cabot Circus,” he noted, highlighting LifeWear’s focus on quality, simplicity and functionality. For Cabot Circus, the arrival of a high-profile international brand adds further weight to a refreshed fashion and leisure mix, strengthening its draw across the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

On September 6th, Belstaff opened its first ever full price store in Leeds. Located on Vicar Lane in Victoria Leeds in the historic Victoria Quarter, the store will house all of the brand’s latest collections, including motorcycle clothing and the new Autumn/Winter 2025 collection. The design of the store is a continuation of the ‘Future Garage’ concept unveiled at the London flagship in 2024 – a contemporary nod to the brand’s motorcycle heritage. This is an exciting new opening for Belstaff, which has a historic connection to the North of England – its founders Eli Belovich and Harry Grosberg first conceived the idea for the brand in nearby Manchester. As Belstaff’s third full-price store in England, it’s perfectly placed to better service its loyal customers in the region, while welcoming new ones. Full address: Unit 37, Victoria Quarter, 67 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 6BH Rachel Bradburn, Head of Leasing at Redical, commented “As Victoria Leeds’ line-up continues to grow, so does our status as the region’s go-to location for retailers. Belstaff is a premium addition to our flourishing destination, extending our menswear offer and delivering a distinct point of difference we know our loyal consumer base will benefit from. This city debut is one of many at Victoria Leeds, and we look forward to not only what Belstaff’s opening will bring, but also what lies ahead as we gear up for even more landmark Leeds debuts.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals