For the past few months there’s been talk of returning confidence in the UK retail property market. Reports of incoming foreign investment, acquisitive retailers and a property development pipeline thaw have all contributed to a general feeling of cautious optimism. But did Mapic – the global retail property show that’s widely regarded as the barometer of industry feeling – reflect this? The answer’s a fairly resounding yes, with countless agents talking of improving demand for retailer space and development plans getting the green light. Retail Week was at the event in Cannes, France last week to gauge the mood.

John Strachan, Cushman & Wakefield’s global head of retail, said that outside of London “in provincial cities and towns” there’s signs of confidence, with retailers looking for bigger units and planned expansion projects for many shopping centres and high streets.

A glance in Strachan’s crystal ball suggested promising things in the next few years for London as well, with talk of “big US flagships, premium names and high street stalwarts” all taking space in the transformed Battersea Power Station, which is likely to open some time between 2017 and 2019. As retail property consultants to the project, Cushman & Wakefield is hoping to make the iconic building a retail and entertainment destination, with “a food and beverage offering and a blend of cinema, auditorium and music venues”, Strachan said. It will have more than 1 million sq ft of retail, and 18 acres of open space and dedicated areas for the arts.

Land Securities took an equally bullish tone. Ashley Blake, director of retail portfolio management, said that while “consumer expenditure is weak”, the UK is being targeted by “hungry foreign retailers”, especially from the US and China, which could be the impetus that’s needed to get consumers spending again.

On the UK high street, Blake flagged up Primark and Boots as retailers in expansion mode. New Look was also pinpointed as a retailer in ascendency after its crucial refinancing in May this year. “I was worried about them a year ago – not anymore more,” Blake said. And he wasn’t the only one to comment on New Look’s prospects, with numerous agents highlighting it as a retailer that is seeing a new lease of life. Earlier this month New Look revealed surging profits in its first half, generating pre-tax of £13.8m in the 26 weeks to September 28 from a loss of £13.6m in the same period last year.

Predictions of an increasing number of Asian retailers entering the UK in next 12 months were also rife at Mapic. Deals are imminent, said Kevin Farrow, CBRE’s senior director for central London retail agency. While Debenhams’ international director of property Francis McAuley said emerging Asian retailers are vital source of innovation for UK retailers. “There’s a lot of innovation coming from Asia and not just China,” he said. “In Thailand there’s new young, funky, trendy brands in shopping malls.” He added that such innovation can “easily be transported into central Europe”.

Throughout Mapic, agents and landlords were quick to mention a handful of names from overseas that are actively looking at coming to the UK. From a multitude of sectors, these retailers are keen to break into the UK market and tap into the lucrative opportunities it offers.

In 2014 there is also likely to be a surge of activity in the designer outlet market, which began hotting up in October after Quintain opened London’s first designer outlet in Wembley. McArthurGlen is planning to double the size of its Ashford Designer Outlet by 2016, and it is also poised to begin work to extend its Swindon Designer Outlet by 50,000 sq ft as part of a £35m revamp. Talking at Mapic, the developer added that South England and the Midlands are both prime spots for designer outlets, with a gap for premium retailers and luxury names in those areas.

For Jones Lang LaSalle’s international director of retail Adrian Peachey, Mapic was the culmination of a year in which fortunes dramatically improved for the retail property market. He said: “It got better over the second half of the year with big investment and recovery. Since July there’s been better traction with retailers”, although town centre and primse development is still dominant.

Reflecting on the feel of Mapic, Farrow added: “There’s a lot more positivity this year – just look at the size and the number of people here. Plus there’s a lot more retailers.”

Mounting confidence among the UK’s leading retailers and a general demand for space could be just what the retail property market needs to break out of its slump for good.