Retail
Lidl GB has announced a major UK expansion programme, committing £600m to open more than 50 new stores over the next 12 months and create around 2,000 jobs, marking the largest standard store rollout in the sector this year. The investment will support regional growth, increased sourcing from British suppliers (currently c. two-thirds of its range), and expanded logistics capacity, including a new Leeds warehouse and proposed upgrades to its Belvedere distribution site. With over 1,000 stores already in operation, the move highlights Lidl’s continued push to build market share and density across the UK grocery sector (Retail Gazette, 09 April 2026).
William Hill is set to close around 200 UK shops (c.15% of its estate) from May, following a strategic review by parent Evoke, citing rising cost pressures, tax increases and a challenging high street betting environment. The move comes amid declining footfall and profitability across the sector, with Evoke also undertaking a broader strategic review, delaying results, and facing ongoing market speculation around potential investment or sale (Retail Gazette, 01 April 2026).
Logistics
Evri is investing £4m in a new 25,000m² fulfilment centre in Barnsley, set to open in July 2026, enhancing capacity and delivery speeds through automation and direct integration with its main hub. The facility will support faster processing, late cut-off times for next-day delivery and SME customers, while creating over 150 jobs as part of Evri’s wider network expansion (Parcel and Postal Technology International, 30 March 2026).
Maersk has signed a lease for a 411,470 sq ft Grade A distribution unit at Gateway 4 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, to strengthen its UK logistics and distribution network. The high-spec facility, located near Junction 4 of the M18, offers 15m eaves height, large yard space, strong power supply, and strong road and rail connectivity. Landlord CBRE Investment Management completed the letting in just seven days, highlighting robust occupier demand for high-quality logistics space and the strength of landlord–tenant relationships in key UK logistics corridors (Property Week, 7 April 2026).
Office
Anthropic is reportedly being encouraged by the UK government to expand its London presence, with discussions centred on increasing headcount and investment in the UK’s AI ecosystem. While no formal lease has been announced, the scale of potential hiring implies additional office space requirements in London over the near to medium term (Reuters, 05 April 2026).
Babcock International Group has acquired a former House of Fraser store in Plymouth for c.£3m, with plans to redevelop it into an office hub for up to 2,000 staff. The move will free up space at its Devonport Dockyard site while supporting city centre regeneration and boosting local employment and footfall (Property Week, 07 April 2026).
Derwent London has agreed to sell Burberry’s London headquarters at Horseferry House to Sinar Mas for £131.8m, slightly below book value. The fully let asset (lease to Burberry until 2043) forms part of Derwent’s £1bn disposal strategy, with the sale delivering a c.8.4% IRR over 21 years and reflecting continued demand for prime London offices (Property Week, 01 April 2026).
People Moves
Oracle has appointed Hilary Maxson as Chief Financial Officer, bringing in the former Schneider Electric executive as it ramps up investment in AI and cloud infrastructure. The appointment comes at a critical time as Oracle significantly increases capital expenditure to support its AI strategy (Reuters, 06 April 2026).
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America CEO Stephen Ubl has announced plans to step down at the end of 2026, with the board initiating a search for a successor. The transition marks a significant leadership change for one of the most influential organisations in the US pharmaceutical sector (Reuters, 08 April 2026).
CarMax has agreed to appoint Bill Cobb and Jim Kessler to its board following pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, signalling governance changes as the company responds to shareholder demands for improved performance (Reuters, 09 April 2026).
Caterpillar has announced that CFO Andrew Bonfield will retire, with company veteran Kyle Epley named as his successor. The planned transition reflects internal succession planning within one of the world’s largest industrial occupiers (Reuters, 08 April 2026).
