MIXED-USE PROPERTY PURCHASE DEMONSTRATES GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN SECONDARY RETAIL INVESTMENT IN AREAS WITH RESILIENT LOCAL DEMAND, SAYS INVESTOR

04 June 2026

With UK high streets facing continued challenges as a result of changing consumer shopping and lifestyle habits, potential still abounds for savvy purchasers of secondary retail units prepared to do their homework.

This is the view of an experienced private investor who recently strengthened their portfolio with the acquisition of a fully let parade of shops, including a barbers and an opticians, in a well established secondary retail location in Grays, Essex. The purchase is an example of renewed confidence in service led retail assets like this which serve local communities, where there are affordable deals to be had.

However, acting fast when suitable properties come onto the market is critical to success in a competitive sector. In this case, the purchase was supported by YBS Commercial Mortgages, which structured and completed the funding across two connected transactions in under seven weeks from application, enabling the borrowers to secure it within a highly competitive timeframe.

With tenants already in situ, purchaser Yoel Rosenthal had identified the multi-let building as both a stable income opportunity and a means of supporting the continued vitality of a local high street – a theme increasingly resonating with experienced investors amid ongoing hurdles facing the retail market, such as declining footfall as a result of online shopping and an increased trend towards out-of-town retail parks.

Yoel Rosenthal, one of the investors behind the Grays acquisition, said:

“Despite wider market turbulence, the underlying fundamentals for secondary retail serving strong local areas remain compelling. While it is important they do their research and choose widely, if investors focused on income and long term sustainability, these assets continue to offer rewards.

“We’re seeing stability return to non prime locations where retail is convenience led and embedded within the community. Vacancy levels have steadied since 2023[1], footfall is proving resilient, and consumers are increasingly gravitating towards local, value oriented shopping. That creates a strong case for well priced secondary stock such as this.”

Rosenthal added that lender support was critical to a successful investment strategy. He said:

“Having a lender like YBS Commercial Mortgages, which genuinely understands how we operate and what we’re trying to achieve, makes a material difference. Their ability to move quickly and work within tight deadlines gave us the confidence to proceed, knowing the funding process would align with the realities of property transactions.”

Mark Setchell, senior relationship director at YBS Commercial Mortgages, who led the deal through to completion, said:

“When the right properties become available in the secondary retail market, there are really good deals to be had but time is of the essence when it comes to seizing them, and our role is to respond with certainty and pace in order to help investors succeed.

“We worked closely with Yoel to understand his long term objectives and help him secure appropriately structured funding in order to meet them. Delivering on the transaction within the required timeframe demonstrated the flexibility of our approach and the commitment of our teams to providing a smooth and efficient customer journey.”