Retail

The team specialise in Central London retail acquisition both for local occupiers wishing to re-locate or add to their existing portfolio and new entrants to the London market from overseas. Using experience across the team, our planning and rating experts collaborate with our building surveying and project management contacts allowing us to offer clients a complete “one stop” re-location package. This encompasses agreement of the terms of a lease, pre-acquisition building survey, planning advice (on use, signage and alterations) and shop fitting. Our approach starts by gaining an understanding of our client’s business, giving advice on the parameters of the required search area having regard to agreed demographic and budgetary criteria and the character of neighbouring retailers within the chosen area. We compile a schedule of available shops with details of full occupancy costs and prepare a shortlist, terms are negotiated to identify a preferred and reserve option. We work closely with client's lawyers to advise on commercial aspects of lease terms and liaise throughout the process until completion. As many of our clients have never acquired premises in the UK before they rely on us to advise on the recruitment of a professional team to handle the entire process.

The team works with retailers to minimize business rates throughout the life of a store, including luxury retailers; premium retailers; multiple occupiers and locally for smaller ratepayers to minimise their business rate liability.

We look at opportunities to exploit empty property exemptions prior to a store opening; and where construction activity is likely to involved in preparing a new store configuration it may be possible to remove the empty rate liability completely for many months or even years. In addition, we look at the opportunity to reduce the business rates overhead when you are considering refitting, reconfiguration or relocation projects.

We also advice on empty property rate liability and advise on the most suitable strategies, dependent on the circumstances and whether the property will be held empty for a short or long term.

We specialise in complex retail projects that deliver new experiences that bring together places and communities.

We enjoy working on challenging projects where we can add value through our knowledge of both planning and development, to successfully negotiate the planning process.

We are experienced in preparing retail impact assessments to support large scale retail development and have achieved planning permission for large complex schemes which have required a considerable amount of close liaison with planning officers, committees and the local community.