The UK's biggest upcoming retail projects

Against this backdrop, major new retail developments can only succeed if they offer more than shopping. They must function as leisure destinations, cultural hubs and mixed-use environments that attract visitors for a full day out rather than a single purchase. Despite economic headwinds, planned and ongoing projects across the UK show that investor appetite for large-scale retail-led regeneration remains strong.

Below, we explore some of the most significant developments shaping the next chapter of UK retail.

Westfield and major London retail-led regeneration

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield continues to be a dominant force in UK retail development. Over the past decade, they have invested more than four billion pounds across Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, both of which anchor major regeneration zones.

Plans for Croydon’s long-anticipated Westfield redevelopment have faced delays over the past few years due to market uncertainty and partner restructuring. However, the wider Croydon regeneration programme remains active, with the council and private partners continuing discussions on a revised, more mixed-use approach. While the exact configuration has evolved, the ambition to deliver a modern retail and leisure destination in the town centre remains firmly on the agenda.

Westfield’s influence on areas surrounding its existing centres highlights a key trend in 2025: retail projects that act as catalysts for broader economic and residential growth.

Leeds city centre and the South Bank transformation

Leeds continues to establish itself as one of the UK’s most dynamic cities, and the South Bank redevelopment is central to this growth. As one of the largest regeneration schemes in Europe, the project aims to effectively double the size of the city centre.

The vision goes far beyond retail. South Bank brings together new commercial districts, office space, cultural venues, green spaces, transport upgrades and residential developments. Retail will play a significant role, but as part of a much wider placemaking strategy designed to attract workers, residents and visitors into an extended urban core.

This integrated, lifestyle-driven approach reflects the broader direction of retail planning across the UK.

Designer Outlet Cotswolds

Outlet retail has proven remarkably resilient, even as traditional high streets and shopping centres have struggled. With strong tourist appeal, brand desirability and value-driven positioning, outlet villages remain popular with both UK shoppers and international visitors.

Designer Outlet Cotswolds, located near Cheltenham, is a key example. The scheme spans roughly 195,000 square feet and is being delivered in phases, offering around ninety retail units along with restaurants, cafés and leisure facilities. It is the first UK development by ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, a major European operator with centres across Austria, Italy and Germany.

The project’s blend of premium retail, food, lifestyle and tourism appeal positions it well in a market where experiential shopping continues to outperform pure transactional models.

Oxford Street reinvention

Oxford Street remains one of the most recognised retail destinations in the world, but it has not been immune to the pressures facing high street retail. In recent years, shifts in footfall, temporary pop-ups, fast fashion closures and policy debates around short-term lets have driven new urgency for long-term reinvention.

A three hundred million pound redevelopment backed by Daejan Investments will introduce around thirty thousand square feet of new retail and mixed-use space. Planning approval has been secured, and the scheme forms part of a wider effort to reposition Oxford Street for the next decade by improving public realm, attracting long-term tenants and enhancing visitor experience.

Large-scale improvements to transport connections and pedestrianisation proposals continue to support this strategy.

What these projects tell us about the future of UK retail

Despite the accelerated growth of online shopping, there is still strong demand for physical retail environments that offer social interaction, leisure, food, culture and community. The most successful developments today are those that weave together:

• retail
• entertainment
• workspace
• residential space
• green public areas
• transport connectivity

People are no longer visiting shopping centres purely to shop. They are seeking experiences, ease of access, and places that feel worth the journey. Developers who deliver this blend continue to secure investment, even in a challenging economy.

Retail is not dying. It is evolving.