The UK retail property market is a vast and dynamic ecosystem. With over 788,000 shop-related commercial properties recorded across England and Wales, understanding the patterns of rental values, property sizes, occupancy, and geographic distribution is essential for investors, retailers, and policymakers. This article explores key analytics drawn from comprehensive commercial real estate data to reveal the state of retail in Britain today, including crucial insights from Retail Store Analytics.

1. Retail Store Analytics the Big Picture: National Retail Property Landscape

Across the dataset, the average shop property in the UK commands a rental value of approximately £24,305 per annum, with an average size of 224 m². The average business rates burden stands at £10,850, while the cost per square metre of rent averages £162. This paints a picture of a sector where location, size, and use type dramatically influence financial performance.

Metric	Average Value
Total Retail Properties	788,170
Average Rental Value	£24,305
Average Business Rates	£10,850
Average Property Size	224 m²
Average Rent per m²	£162/m²

2. Retail by Category: Shops Dominate, But Specialised Segments Drive Value

Retail Store Analytics can be used to break down the data by sub-category, clear hierarchies emerge:

• Standard Shops account for the largest volume — over 418,000 properties — with an average rent of £19,149 and a modest average size of 107 m².
• Hypermarkets & Superstores (>2,500 m²) command the highest average rental values by far at £1.15 million, with an average footprint of 6,283 m².
• Large Shops (>1,850 m²) follow with an average rental value of £396,250 across over 2,000 properties.
• Food Stores (750–2,500 m²) average £263,364 in rent, reflecting the premium placed on grocery-anchored locations.
• Factory Shops present an interesting niche with an average rent of £119,886 and a compact average size of 233 m².

The Retail Store Analytics demonstrate that while small-to-medium shops dominate by volume, large-format retail and grocery-anchored properties are the true value drivers.

3. Geographic Hotspots: Where Retail Thrives

The geographic spread of retail properties reveals the UK’s economic heartlands:

Region	Number of Properties	Avg Rent (£)	Avg Size (m²)
Outer London	49,964	£26,428	154 m²
Inner London	49,666	£54,938	141 m²
West Midlands	35,667	£19,544	238 m²
Greater Manchester	35,291	£19,086	225 m²
West Yorkshire	30,737	£16,249	207 m²
Merseyside	17,571	£15,972	191 m²
South Yorkshire	17,464	£18,405	248 m²
Kent	16,075	£23,443	196 m²

Retail Store Analytics Key insight: London dominates both in volume and rental value, but the Midlands and the North offer significantly more space per pound — a critical factor for retailers seeking affordable expansion. South Yorkshire offers the largest average shop floor space (248 m²) at a relatively modest rent.

4. Who’s Occupying Britain’s Retail Spaces?

Retail Store Analytics of occupant data reveals the biggest names on Britain’s high streets and retail parks:

Occupant	Locations	Avg Rent (£)	Avg Size (m²)
Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming	1,886	£20,037	115 m²
Subway	1,104	£20,719	115 m²
Greggs	1,030	£30,599	178 m²
William Hill	908	£19,431	122 m²
Boots	711	£79,923	721 m²
Domino’s Pizza	687	£18,607	129 m²
Tesco	639	£76,512	432 m²
Costa Coffee	570	£39,754	203 m²
Post Office	553	£10,852	84 m²
Co-operative Group	497	£46,198	379 m²

Notable trends:

• Boots operates some of the most valuable retail real estate, with average rents of nearly £80,000 and large premises averaging 721 m².
• Greggs has emerged as a powerhouse with over 1,000 locations and rents averaging £30,599 — a testament to its successful high-street strategy.
• Convenience and food retail (Tesco, Co-op) command high rents and larger footprints, reflecting their essential-service positioning.
• The high presence of betting shops (Ladbrokes, William Hill) highlights the ongoing prevalence of this category on UK high streets.

 5. What Retailers Actually Do (SIC Code Breakdown)

Looking at the primary business activities of retail occupants by linking the company number of the occupant to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, we see:

Business Activity (SIC Description)	Locations	Avg Rent (£)	Avg Size (m²)
Hairdressing & Other Beauty Treatment	9,682	£13,799	71 m²
Other Retail Sale in Non-Specialised Stores	6,205	£49,405	446 m²
Retail Sale of Clothing in Specialised Stores	5,996	£88,407	400 m²
Food & Beverage Retail (Non-Specialised Stores)	5,280	£61,245	384 m²
Other Retail Sale of New Goods in Specialised Stores	3,761	£36,193	244 m²
Dispensing Chemist in Specialised Stores	3,416	£22,200	140 m²
Retail Sale via Mail Order or Internet	1,913	£18,753	216 m²
Furniture, Lighting & Homeware Stores	1,757	£34,832	347 m²
Watches & Jewellery Retail	1,725	£43,648	122 m²
Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories Retail	1,317	£22,425	327 m²
Opticians	1,294	£23,216	109 m²
Cosmetics & Toiletries Retail	1,170	£51,327	158 m²
Footwear Retail	1,086	£70,973	293 m²
Hardware, Paints & Glass Retail	1,088	£29,111	291 m²
Booksellers	453	£47,566	264 m²
Games & Toys Retail	432	£38,607	241 m²

Key observations from the Retail Store Analytics on SIC codes:

• Chemists are steady anchors: With over 3,400 locations and an average rent of £22,200, dispensing chemists remain a staple of the UK high street.
• Fashion dominates value: Clothing retailers pay the highest average rent at £88,407, followed by footwear at £70,973 — these brands clearly prioritise prime high-street positioning.
• Beauty is the most ubiquitous: Hairdressing and beauty treatment accounts for nearly 10,000 locations, though at a relatively modest rent of £13,799 and small average footprint of just 71 m².
• Convenience retail commands space: Non-specialised food and general retailers occupy the largest average floorplates (384–446 m²) with strong rental values, highlighting the ongoing dominance of grocery and convenience.

Strategic Takeaways from the Retail Store Analytics

1. Small is plentiful, but big pays. Standard shops (<185 m²) dominate by count but large-format retail generates exponentially higher rental income and turnover potential.
2. London commands a premium — but the North offers space. Inner London rents are nearly 3x those of the West Midlands or Greater Manchester, but retailers get significantly more square footage for their money outside the capital.
3. Food and convenience are resilient anchors. Tesco, Co-op, Greggs, and Subway occupy some of the most valuable real estate — essential retail maintains its value even in challenging economic climates.
4. The shift to experience retail is real. Coffee shops (Costa, with 570 locations) and food outlets are increasingly dominant, replacing traditional goods-based retail.
5. Business rates remain a significant cost. At an average of £10,850 per property, rates are a material factor in retail profitability and location decisions.

Conclusion

The UK’s retail property market is complex but rich with opportunity. By leveraging detailed Retail Store Analytics, stakeholders can make informed decisions about location strategy, format sizing, and investment priorities. Whether you’re a retailer planning your next store opening, an investor assessing portfolio performance, or a policymaker evaluating high street health — the data tells a powerful story.

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Article content sourced from the Doorda Commercial Property dataset, covering shop and retail properties across England and Wales with detailed rental, occupancy, and geographic analytics. The Retail Store Analytics insights were created by leveraging Doorda AI.