Comment: Property brings opportunity as well as challenges for retail

Not least is what’s going on at the east end of Oxford Street, which has long been the tired part of one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. The arrival of Primark and the Crossrail plans have kick-started a new phase for the area - it will take years, but our feature gives an idea of where things might be heading.

But while there are pockets of development, the overall picture has changed significantly since the heady days of the space race. This is perhaps why there are signs that the balance of power is shifting more towards retailers. We discuss H&M’s attempts to get more favourable terms on its leases in the UK, and whether this has implications for the rest of the retail sector.

Retail parks haven’t had such a hard time as the high street lately and we discover one of the core reasons for their recent success. Leisure attractions including cinemas, food outlets and bingo halls are increasingly important to keeping footfall and dwell time high - all good news for retailers.

And while some of the more traditional retail destinations have struggled in recent years, more alternative sites are thriving. Travel retail especially is working well for an increasing number of retailers - it’s no longer just WHSmith and the convenience stores that are adapting their formats to suit travellers and commuters. We look at the new places where retail is flourishing, and how retailers are adapting.

We also explore the sheds market and outline the problems experienced over the past few years. The market has been hit particularly hard since the start of the downturn in 2008. The problem for retailers is that this could hinder their etail expansion plans because of a shortage of suitable space.

There are certainly issues to contend with, but there are opportunities too.

The market will remain interesting as the wider retail landscape continues to shift.