Ikea has opened a new ‘Plan & Order Point’ at Clifton Moor Retail Park in York, continuing its drive to make its products and services more accessible across the UK. The smaller format store is dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, providing customers with free home furnishing advice. Shoppers can book an appointment with one of the York store’s six planning specialists or use self-service tools in-store to design their own solutions. Customers will be able to order from the full Ikea product range, with next-day collection and home delivery options available. The York site also features a dedicated collection point for online orders and facilities for returns of any Ikea purchase. Conor Doherty, Ikea market manager, said:“We’re thrilled to open the doors to our new Ikea Plan and Order Point in York. This welcoming space is designed to inspire; offering a chance to explore our unique kitchen ranges and smart storage solutions. It’s the perfect place to discover Ikea’s extensive selection of affordable home products, suited to every budget. Plus, it provides a convenient new location for collecting online orders and purchases from our Hull and Leeds stores.” The York opening is part of Ikea’s broader UK expansion strategy. In the months ahead, the retailer will launch another Plan and Order Point in Dundee and a small-format store in Chester. It follows the recent debut of similar outlets in Hull, Harlow, and Norwich, as well as a new city store in Brighton. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Tech retailer WYE has appointed Savills to support its nationwide expansion, as it looks to open up to 400 new sites over the next five years. The company, a manufacturer and supplier of mobile phone and technology accessories, currently operates through a network of kiosks and retail units. Its growth strategy will combine both modular kiosks and full shop fit-outs, with a focus on shopping centre locations. In addition, WYE has developed a new solar-powered external design aimed at the out-of-town retail market, which it plans to roll out over the next 12 months. Neil Grice, director in retail at Savills, said:“WYE is redefining the mobile accessories sector across the UK. They have perfected a retail format that can be deployed quickly and adapted to a variety of locations. They are uniquely placed to combine aesthetic appeal with operational efficiency, helping landlords transform underutilised areas into valuable retail space. We are delighted to be working with them on their expansion plans, as they seek to rapidly grow their presence across the UK.” Haron Noori, group CEO at WYE, added:“Working with Savills represents a significant step forward in delivering on our strategic plans for UK growth, both in the short and long term. It will enable us to bring our high-quality products to a wider customer base, strengthen our market presence, and create new opportunities for innovation and service excellence. Together, we look forward to driving sustainable growth and delivering exceptional value to our customers.” With its focus on flexible formats and sustainable design, WYE’s expansion highlights the changing face of UK retail property and the growing demand for adaptable, future-proofed space. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Lidl has secured a major investor-backed deal to support the construction of 35 new stores across the UK and Europe, marking a significant shift in its approach to property development. The portfolio, which includes 17 UK supermarket sites, is currently under offer from global investment firm ICG for more than €250 million (£215 million), according to The Grocer. Once construction is complete, all stores will be leased back to Lidl under a sale-and-leaseback agreement. This approach mirrors Lidl’s first UK deal of this kind, struck with Roadside Real Estate in October last year. Traditionally, Lidl has focused on building and owning its sites outright, but the move towards leasehold arrangements indicates a new strategic direction aimed at speeding up its store rollout. The deal is expected to complete within the current financial year. A spokesperson for Lidl International said: “The qualitative and quantitative expansion of our network of stores has always been a key driver for the sustainable growth of our company. As a matter of principle, we do not focus on short-term developments, but always think long-term, economically, and sustainably. In particularly promising market situations, we consciously decide to develop properties and projects together with partners and investors.” ICG has declined to comment on the transaction. The news comes as Lidl pushes ahead with plans to open over 40 new UK stores this financial year, with a long-term goal of reaching a 1,500-strong estate across the country. By tapping into investor capital, Lidl is reinforcing its commitment to rapid growth while balancing flexibility in its property portfolio – a move that could reshape how the discounter expands in increasingly competitive markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Asda is accelerating its presence in the convenience sector with the rapid rollout of 20 new Asda Express stores across the UK over the course of just four weeks. The expansion marks a significant step forward in the supermarket giant’s mission to strengthen its reach in busy urban areas, residential communities, and key transport hubs – locations where it has traditionally had a lighter footprint. The first of these new stores is set to open in Castleford, Yorkshire, in October, with a wave of further openings scheduled to follow swiftly from late October onwards. Asda Express stores are designed to meet a wide range of everyday shopping needs. From quick ‘top up’ grocery runs to on-the-go lunches and convenient dinner solutions, the stores aim to bring greater flexibility to modern shoppers looking for speed, value, and accessibility. Although the Express format was initially introduced in 2022, Asda temporarily paused the launch of standalone locations while it focused on integrating the 469 convenience stores it acquired from the Co-op and EG Group. With much of that work now complete, the retailer is refocusing on new sites as part of its broader convenience strategy. David Lepley, Asda’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, said: “We’re thrilled to kick off the next phase of our Express rollout and bring our heritage in delivering outstanding value to more locations across the UK. In just three years, we’ve grown from zero convenience stores to establishing a major presence in the channel, with almost 500 stores by the end of the year. This continued investment reflects the confidence we have in our convenience strategy and our focus on bringing Asda’s low prices to more local communities.” The new Asda Express sites will be launched in the following locations: With this burst of store openings, Asda is not only expanding its physical footprint, but also reinforcing its commitment to bringing everyday essentials and low prices closer to where people live and travel. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Rituals has celebrated a major milestone with the opening of its 100th UK store, located in St Albans. The wellbeing brand, known for its luxury home and body products, has steadily grown its retail footprint across the country with stores already trading in key cities including London, Belfast, Swansea, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Annemarie Forsyth, managing director of Rituals UK & Ireland, said: “We’re excited to continue to thoughtfully expand our presence across the UK and Ireland, two markets which are hugely important to us. Helping us reach more communities while staying rooted in our values remains a focus.” Alongside the new opening, Rituals is preparing to launch its first ‘Mind Oasis’ on Oxford Street in London later this year. The new concept is designed to offer customers a space to recharge and reconnect, strengthening the brand’s positioning in wellbeing-led retail. Further expansion is also planned in Ireland, with two additional stores due to open before the end of the year. By then, Rituals expects to operate 113 UK stores and 18 Irish locations, bringing its combined footprint across the two markets to 137 stores, including travel hubs, in 2025. Recommendation: Use St Albans as a showcase launch to reinforce the brand’s UK growth story.Next step: Position the Mind Oasis concept as a flagship example of Rituals’ evolving customer experience. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Redical has announced that Belstaff, the British menswear brand, is to make its city debut in Victoria Leeds, its premium lifestyle destination, this September. Belstaff will open a 2,259 sq ft space in the historic Victoria Quarter, and is an addition that extends the destination’s menswear offer alongside the likes of Barbour, Hawes & Curtis, and Ralph Lauren. Inspired by the longstanding tradition of motorcycling, the revered British heritage brand’s Leeds store will feature its tailored range of menswear, which includes high-quality outerwear, essentials, and accessories. The store will also include Belstaff’s womenswear range. Rachel Bradburn, Head of Leasing at Redical, commented: “Belstaff is a very strong addition to our menswear offer at Victoria Leeds, bringing even greater variety and diversity to our guests’ shopping experience. Belfstaff choosing Victoria Leeds for its city debut further cements our reputation as the prime retail destination in the region, and highlights our continued commitment to delivering the best-of-the-best, time and time again.” Kerry Byrne, CEO of Belstaff, added: “The signing at Victoria Leeds marks the next step in our significant expansion strategy, with the historic architecture of Victoria Quarter complementing our timeless and elegant menswear collection. Victoria Leeds stands as one of the north’s most premium retail destinations, and we are proud to add Belstaff to the leading tenant mix.” The signing is another significant milestone in Redical’s ‘transformation through accumulation’ strategy to grow Victoria Leeds’ performance since it bought the asset in 2022, with Belstaff following the luxury activewear brand, Alo Yoga, in joining Victoria Leeds.  Reaffirming the destination’s leading position in the UK, Alo Yoga’s new store will stock the brand’s highly coveted collections across women’s and men’s categories that include activewear, outerwear, accessories, and wellness. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Marks & Spencer is ramping up its transformation strategy with record levels of investment across both its store estate and food supply chain, underpinning its ambition to deliver long-term growth and become a destination for the weekly shop. This financial year, M&S is investing more than £300 million into its store rotation programme, with 16 new openings, nine extensions, and 12 renewals planned. These projects will showcase the retailer’s latest store formats, designed around brighter entrances, wider aisles, and modern layouts that bring together Food, Fashion, Home, and Beauty in a more engaging environment. Recent examples include the expanded full-line store at Nugent Shopping Park in Orpington, which now spans 37,700 sq ft and features a dedicated beauty hall alongside an enlarged fashion offer. Similar renewals have been delivered in Aberdeen Union Square, Warrington’s Gemini Retail Park, and Liverpool’s Mersey Retail Park, reflecting M&S’s commitment to creating larger, fresher spaces across the UK. In parallel, the business has unveiled the largest supply chain investment in its history, committing £340 million to a new automated National Distribution Centre at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. At 1.3 million sq ft, the site will open in 2029 and play a pivotal role in supporting M&S’s ambition to double the size of its food business. The facility will enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product availability, while also creating 2,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent roles once operational. Combined, these investments illustrate how M&S is modernising both its front-end customer experience and back-end infrastructure. By strengthening its network, expanding its food halls, and rolling out renewed full-line stores, the retailer is positioning itself for sustained growth and sharper customer focus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A fast-growing Midlands architecture business is celebrating after completing its 30th project for the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer, Sports Direct. Wolverhampton-based Pinnacle Architecture has provided architectural services, interior design and project management for Sports Direct’s  concept stores around the UK, including one of its biggest flagship stores in Birmingham city centre. The £10 million New Street development includes in-store retail outlets for Game, Evans Cycles, USC and the Belong Gaming Arena. The huge 85,000 sq ft store is over four levels. Pinnacle has also recently supported major Sport Direct outlets in the Cascades Shopping Centre in Portsmouth and the £1.3 million Sports Direct store at The Fort in Birmingham. As well as architectural, design and project management services, Pinnacle has provided structural engineering work and cost consultancy for many other Frasers Group projects. Pinnacle Architecture Limited managing director Hurnake Singh Johal said, “We are delighted to have been on this journey and to continue to provide services for such a high profile retailer. The developments involved combining premium design and advanced retail features into spaces which embody the Sports Direct brand and reflect Frasers Group’s high status and values.” Pinnacle Architecture provides a one-stop bespoke service for architecture, structural and civil engineering and laser scanning. Founded in 2019, the firm has a wealth of experience across a wide range of sectors including buy-to-rent developments, care, retail, residential, mixed-use developments and more. Headquartered in a Grade 2 listed building in Deansgate Offices, Wolverhampton, Pinnacle also has offices in Telford and London. Pinnacle supports clients through the development process, from planning to design and implementation on a wide range of new build and refurbishment projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

PRO:DIRECT Sport is set to launch its first flagship PD:FC concept store at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre in early 2026. The new store will combine retail with community space, aiming to become a hub for Birmingham’s football culture. Alongside an extensive product range, PD:FC will host events, training sessions, and activations that connect players, coaches, fans, and creative talent from across the region. Sam Baldock, chief of brand at PRO:DIRECT Sport, said:“Birmingham has always been a city with deep roots in football and youth culture. PD:FC at Bullring will be much more than a store – it will be a destination for the football-inspired community, bringing together the game’s passion, lifestyle, and future in one place. We are creating a space that reflects the city’s energy and love for football.” Retail landlord Hammerson, which owns and manages Bullring, said the signing reflects strong demand from digitally native and sports-led brands seeking physical retail opportunities in prime locations. Toby Tait, director of asset management at Hammerson, commented:“PRO:DIRECT Sport choosing Bullring for its debut flagship concept underlines the centre’s status as one of the UK’s leading retail destinations. The store will strengthen our line-up, offering visitors a new experiential space that celebrates both sport and culture.” The opening adds to a wave of new signings at the Bullring and Grand Central estate, including Nike Rise, Lululemon, and JD Sports expansions, cementing Birmingham’s role as a key hub for retail and lifestyle brands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Superdrug has reinforced its presence in Oxford with two significant store developments, underlining the retailer’s strategy to grow and modernise its national portfolio. At Landsec’s Westgate Centre, Superdrug has expanded its existing store by taking on the adjacent Units 21-22, creating a larger 6,792 sq ft space. The store, which opened earlier this year, is held on a new 10-year lease with a tenant break and rent review at year five, providing flexibility for both the retailer and the landlord. In addition, Superdrug has signed an agreement to lease the current Poundland unit at Templar Shopping Park in Cowley. The property, managed by CBRE Investment Management and Quadrant Estates on behalf of Hampshire Pension Fund, will be handed over in August. This second deal is also structured as a 10-year lease with similar break and review provisions. Together, the new lettings push Superdrug beyond its target of 25 store openings in 2025, reflecting strong performance in both city centre and retail park locations. Simon Horner of GCW, acting for Superdrug, said the moves highlight the retailer’s dual approach to growth: “Oxford is a great example of how Superdrug is expanding on two fronts – through larger, more modern units in high-footfall city centre destinations, and through selective acquisitions in successful out-of-town retail parks.” CBRE acted for Landsec on the Westgate deal, while Curson Sowerby Partners represented the landlord at Templar Shopping Park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals