Realistic pricing and broad buyer reach continue to deliver in a selective market.
Acuitus’ March 2026 auction highlights continued appetite for well-positioned commercial investments from both domestic and international buyers
Market overview
Continued buyer appetite for well-positioned commercial property was evident at the Acuitus March 2026 auction, where demand focused on well-priced assets offering secure income, strong locations and asset-management potential.
Standout sales
Among the standout retail and mixed-use transactions, the freehold Arcade shopping centre in Bedford sold under the hammer for £2.605m. With occupancy close to 100% and an annual income of £418,590, the asset attracted interest from a number of professional investors. In Cirencester, Bishops Walk shopping centre sold prior to auction for well in excess of £3.1m, substantially above guide price, underlining continued demand for well-located assets where there is a clear income story and active management potential.
A prominent city centre bank investment in Leicester sold under the hammer for £2.36m. Let to HSBC on a recently extended lease until 2031 with no breaks, the recently refurbished property produced annual rental income of £200,000 and sold at a yield of 7.95%. The result reflected continued appetite for strong covenant-backed investments where income security remains a key attraction.
Elsewhere, St Peter’s House in Gloucester, an attractive mixed-use building close to the cathedral, sold for £600,000 at a yield of 8%. In Wallington, south London, a leasehold trade counter investment let to Screwfix until 2039 sold for £1.1m at a yield of 7.73%. Together, the results pointed to a market in which buyers remain highly selective, but are still prepared to move decisively where pricing, location, covenant strength and future income potential align.
What the results show
Buyers remain disciplined, but there is clear demand for commercial property that is well-positioned, realistically priced and supported by a compelling income or asset-management story. In the current economic and global climate market, success comes from understanding how to present each opportunity to the right buyer audience and setting pricing in a way that creates confidence and momentum.
This trend was illustrated at the auction by a number of Greater London lots in Ashford, Dagenham, and Woodford Green which all sold at yields of under 5%.
The March auction took Acuitus’ early-year auction total to more than £35m, including £18.79m raised in the latest sale.
Acuitus Viewpoint
Richard Auterac, Chairman and Auctioneer at Acuitus, commented: “Perhaps the most noticeable trend at our auctions so far this year is the increasing internationalisation of our buyer base. We’ve sold assets to continental European and North American investors and this is likely linked to the persisting perception of the UK as a ‘safe haven’ for capital at a time of uncertainty in global markets. The huge buying power of overseas sovereign wealth and private equity houses is well-documented but this is now being supplemented by acquisitive high net-worth individuals from across a variety of territories.
For our domestic investors, continued volatility in equity markets and a lacklustre residential market are channelling a growing number of buyers to the opportunities presented by a diverse commercial property sector.”
The next Acuitus auction will take place on 6 May at 1pm and will be broadcast via livestream on the Acuitus website, with bidding online, by telephone and by proxy.
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