The leading Scottish retail parks report solid footfall growth as occupier investment and category strength drive visitor numbers.
British Land’s Scottish retail parks have delivered a strong trading performance in 2025. Assets across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Inverness and Kilmarnock attracted a combined 49 million visitors in 2025 – a 4% increase compared to the previous year, supported by significant leasing activity totalling 40 deals and 185,000 sq ft throughout the year.
Glasgow Fort achieved record visitor numbers across the year, with footfall up 8% compared to 2024, marking the destination’s strongest annual performance to date. The park saw robust category performance, with health & beauty, multi-retail and jewellery operators reporting strong sales throughout the year.
The park’s busiest trading day came on Tuesday 23rd December, which recorded the highest footfall since the centre opened. The record-breaking performance was supported by schools breaking up for the festive period and extended midnight trading offered by many retailers, demonstrating the advantage of flexible retail park operating hours during peak trading periods.
Fort Kinnaird also delivered consistent footfall growth through the critical festive trading period. The Edinburgh park’s final trading week saw visitor numbers up 4% on the previous year, with the peak trading day on 30th December.
Meanwhile, British Land’s two Inverness retail parks, Inshes Retail Park and Inverness Retail Park, delivered full year footfall growth in 2025, with the Highland destinations recording a 2.5% increase in visits annually. Both Inverness parks and Central Retail Park in Falkirk saw strong category performance across multi-retail, food & beverage and health & beauty.
Occupier investment drives performance
The footfall growth at both destinations has been supported by significant occupier investment in new and expanded store formats throughout 2025.
At Glasgow Fort, premium health & beauty retailer Superdrug unveiled a newly designed store concept, while fashion operator River Island completed a substantial expansion of its existing unit.
Meanwhile, Fort Kinnaird is progressing a major redevelopment of the park’s Eastern Terrace, creating over 20,000 sq ft of upgraded retail space. Premium beauty brand Rituals and greeting card specialist Clintons have signed for the redeveloped terrace, with stores ranging from 1,100 to 3,000 sq ft. Handmade cosmetics retailer Lush also opened a 1,217 sq ft store as part of the first phase. Existing occupiers Specsavers and Costa Coffee completed substantial refits as part of the wider terrace transformation, which is scheduled to complete in spring 2026.
Leasing activity across British Land’s Scottish retail parks remains positive heading into 2026, with 16 units totalling 74,000 sq ft currently under offer across the regional portfolio.
Ross McCall, retail leasing & commercialisation director at British Land, said: “2025 was a strong year for our Scottish parks. We completed significant leasing activity, with footfall growth across our sites. It’s clear these destinations are delivering for both retailers and customers.
“The level of retailer investment is especially encouraging, with expansions from both Superdrug and River Island at Glasgow Fort and household names arriving at Fort Kinnaird’s Eastern Terrace.
“With 74,000sq ft under offer for 2026, the momentum is clearly carrying through and we’re excited about how this will enhance the offering across locations.”
