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23/06/2026
Author: William Wall
Key takeaways:
The headline investment figures for early 2026 do not tell the full story of a market that, sector by sector and asset by asset, is more active than the numbers suggest. Occupier demand has remained resilient despite the geopolitical uncertainty that has weighed on investor sentiment since early 2026. Rental growth is positive across most sectors, and assets meeting what occupiers and investors are genuinely looking for are attracting competitive interest.
The defining feature of this market is selectivity. Occupiers are taking less space but better space, while investors are deploying more carefully, weighing ESG profile, planning position, covenant quality, and location fundamentals more heavily than two years ago. That shift creates a clear divide between assets that perform and assets that sit.
According to the RICS Q1 2026 Commercial Property Monitor, occupier demand has remained broadly stable across the main sectors despite a sharp deterioration in wider investment sentiment. More specifically, data from multiple sources, including Rightmove's commercial insights tracker, is showing the following headline figures:
+13%
Industrial investment demand
3.8%
Shopping centre rental growth
44%
Share of investment going to infrastructure
£12bn+
Investment into healthcare real estate last year
With BTG Eddisons offering specialist property services across a range of commercial sectors, we try to stay on the pulse of trends across all of them. From industrial, logistics, and trade parks to retail units and the healthcare industry, here is what our experts are seeing, and the data is showing.
Leasing demand is up six per cent year-on-year and investment demand up 13 per cent; the strongest readings of any traditional sector. Occupier take-up reached 9 million sq ft in Q1 2026, in line with the prior quarter. Vacancy has been rising as some operators consolidate their networks, but the national level is now levelling off. With limited speculative supply in the pipeline, the sector’s structural conditions remain positive.
What occupiers want is increasingly specific: prime, energy-efficient space that supports their own sustainability commitments. Purpose-built, well-located stock with strong EPC credentials is commanding the best rents and attracting the most competition.
For landlords with industrial assets that meet those criteria, the current market is a strong one. For those with older stock, understanding the repositioning or upgrade options is the logical starting point before bringing an asset to market.
The RICS Q1 2026 data for office occupier demand stands at a four per cent drop, but the rental growth data tells a more positive story. Average annual rental value growth for all UK offices stood at three per cent in April 2026, according to the MSCI Monthly Index. In the West End and Midtown, annual growth reached 6.4 per cent, reflecting a shortage of quality space that occupiers are competing for.
Return-to-office momentum is supporting demand for sustainable and well-connected buildings that genuinely support modern working. Meanwhile, the EPC compliance clock is ticking for older stock. Analysts estimate a substantial proportion of UK offices fall short of the EPC B standard required by 2030. As that stock becomes progressively harder to let, the relative appeal of compliant buildings improves.
Office investment demand remains 53 per cent higher than two years ago, according to Rightmove, and signs of rotation back toward prime assets are emerging in central London and major regional cities. Owners of quality office stock are well positioned.
Retail carries the weakest headline reading in the RICS Q1 2026 survey at -19 per cent, but that figure has improved for two consecutive quarters, and the limited supply of prime units presents opportunities for landlords.
With prime supply at cyclical lows, average annual rental value growth for standard high street shops peaked at 3.4 per cent in October 2025, according to the MSCI Monthly Index, with shopping centre growth running at an annualised 3.8 per cent in the most recent three months.
The most active occupiers are food and beverage operators, leisure and experience-led uses, and essential service-based businesses. Landlords who understand and respond to that shift are achieving stronger outcomes than those holding out for traditional retail tenants.
For secondary retail assets, the mixed-use repositioning option is increasingly the most credible route to value realisation, and that optionality is attracting a wider pool of buyers than pure retail plays would otherwise reach.
Mixed-use commercial property has become one of the most consistently sought-after asset types in 2026. Investors are drawn to dual income streams, reduced void risk, and the flexibility to reposition over time. Mixed-use opportunities are now growing faster than pure retail investments as investors prioritise income diversity and redevelopment potential.
Activity is particularly strong in regional towns and city centres where high street repositioning is creating a steady supply of assets suited to mixed commercial and residential use. Well-located mixed-use assets with strong transport links are among the priority targets for investors taking a long-term view.
For landlords with town centre assets that combine commercial and residential elements, the current buyer appetite is a great reason to explore the market.
Healthcare property is the standout investment sector of 2026. The drivers are structural and long-term: an ageing population, persistent NHS waiting lists, and a government policy commitment to community-based care through the NHS 10-Year Health Plan. That policy shift is creating durable demand for modern, well-located primary care premises that is unlikely to diminish regardless of wider economic concerns.
GP surgeries and primary care centres benefit from NHS rent reimbursement, with government-backed income tied to long-term leases that provide covenant security unavailable in most commercial sectors. Infrastructure capital accounted for 44 per cent of total real estate investment in 2025, up from 15 per cent in 2016, with healthcare a significant component of that growth.
For private investors and institutions looking for stable, long-term income with limited management intensity, healthcare property deserves serious consideration as part of a diversified commercial portfolio.
The mid-2026 market rewards quality, preparation, and a clear understanding of what the right buyer or occupier for a specific asset looks like. The gap between assets that attract competitive interest and those that sit longer than expected has widened. The difference is no longer just about asking price, but also whether an asset meets what the market is genuinely looking for.
Understanding where your asset sits in that picture is the starting point. Our commercial property agency team works with landlords and investors across all of the sectors covered in this analysis.
Whether you are looking to sell, let, or simply understand what your asset is worth in the current market, we would be glad to have that conversation.
When you are ready to dispose of a commercial property, we are here to support you from initial valuation to completion. Our agents combine local market knowledge with national buyer reach to achieve the best outcome for your asset.
Whether you are a landlord marketing space for the first time or managing an existing portfolio, our team will identify the right occupiers, negotiate favourable lease terms, and help you protect long-term asset value.
A reliable, RICS-standard valuation is the foundation of any sound commercial property decision. Our valuers provide accurate, independent assessments across all asset types to support acquisitions, disposals, financing, and portfolio management.
With prime supply constrained and pricing more realistic than it has been in several years, mid-2026 is a compelling time to buy. Our acquisition specialists will identify the right opportunities, carry out thorough due diligence, and negotiate terms that reflect the current market.
Whether you are looking to buy, sell, let, or simply understand what your commercial property is worth in the current market, our team is ready to help. Call us on 0330 191 8107, email [email protected], or complete the contact form below to speak to one of our commercial property agents.
For more market intelligence and the latest industry updates, browse our property agency news and insights articles.
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