Dom Bouvet, head of UK retail and leisure at Cushman & Wakefield, says he's "hugely optimistic" about the future of the UK retail market, with prime shopping centres and retail parks recording low void rates and, in some cases, rental growth. Increased liquidity and availability of debt also means investors are beginning to circle retail properties again.

Cushman & Wakefield predicts net yields at prime shopping centres will continue to come in after reducing its benchmark to 7.75% from 8% earlier this year – the first time that's happened in a decade. Bouvet also says the agency is expecting more than £2 billion worth of shopping centres to trade next year.

Amid this retail revival of sorts, Cushman & Wakefield is making additions to its London-based UK retail and leisure team, and has more hires planned for the first half of next year. Bouvet told CoStar News: "We are investing because we see the opportunity in that market.

"We have already done it on the retail park side, shopping centres are next, and we will have more people in our shopping centre investment team to capitalise on that."

Read can read the full interview with Cushman & Wakefield's Dom Bouvet, here.

Newmark is looking to cement its growing position in the UK and Europe by formally branding all of its businesses across the continent with the Newmark name, CoStar News understands. In January 2025, Newmark will formally announce that all of its companies in the UK are now known as Newmark. The firm has grown over the UK and continental Europe during the past four years through company acquisitions and senior hires. Chief executive Barry Gosin told CoStar at the Mipim property conference in France, that it planned to recruit brokers and expand globally during the downturn, having already established a headcount of circa 1,000 professionals throughout Europe in less than three years.

Tom Keys-Toyer, a Bristol property director, has completed a 630-mile ultramarathon, raising more than £50,000 for mental health charity Boys In Mind. Keys-Toyer, cofounder of Alma Retail, crossed the finish line at 12pm on Saturday November, having started the challenge 6 November. He ran the race as a tribute to his son Sam, who died by suicide in 2020 at the age of 17. By running the entire South West Coast Path, the property director wanted to raise awareness and funds for positive mental health support in boys and young men. He surpassed his fundraising target five times over. "This run has been a physical and emotional challenge, but the support I've received has been overwhelming," he said.

Matt Willcock will become the managing director for CBRE Scotland on 1 January. Willcock will take over from David Smith who has been at the helm for two years and will continue to be part of the senior leadership team. Smith will take on a new role focusing on capital markets and development spanning offices, industrial & logistics, retail and living sectors. Willock, who joined CBRE in 2012, has held key leadership roles across the London and regional business but more recently in Scotland. He is well-known from his time as a leading office agent in the South East and Greater London markets. Stevie Newlands will continue to lead the investment team.

Property consultancy Graham + Sibbald has hired James McAdden and Richard Violet, who both become partners in its London-based team. McAdden, who joins the capital markets team, has almost 20 years of experience, specialising in central London investment transactions. He was a partner at Colliers before and will now focus on the acquisition, disposal and asset management of real estate in central London. Violet enters the asset services team and has more than 20 years of experience as a chartered surveyor working in London West End practice Savoy Stewart. His expertise is in property management, lease advisory and retail lettings principally in central London and the South East.

JLL has bolstered its Midlands operation with additions to its planning, lease advisory and rating teams, which it says reinforces its commitment to the regions. Nick Harrison joins the firm as head of planning for the Midlands, building on his 25 years’ experience as a chartered town planner. He previously held senior positions at GVA and Lambert Smith Hampton. Millie Evans strengthens the business’ lease advisory team, adding six years' experience as a chartered surveyor. Jack Reid also joins the Midlands rating team as rate liability manager, managing business rates payment for several key clients across the country. JLL said the appointments reflect its continued investment in the Midlands, where it has a team of more than 100 experts.

Global investment manager Realterm has appointed Sophie Dracup as head of asset management for the UK, who will spearhead its leasing and asset management activity in the UK. Joining from Segro, where she was an associate director, Dracup will also be involved with the US-headquartered company's pan-European occupier relations. At Segro she was responsible for its £950 million Greater London portfolio. Prior to this she was at Grosvenor as an asset/leasing manager. Paul Underwood, managing director, international funds, at Realterm said: "Sophie’s years of asset management experience combined with her comprehensive understanding of industrial markets make her an invaluable addition."