SHEDS UK 2026: KEY TAKEAWAYS

Rents and investment: The UK has seen Europe’s strongest rental growth over the past two years, and industrial remains the number one sector to invest in.

The reality check: National vacancy sits at 7-9%, and activity is still well below 2022 levels. Regionally, the East Midlands leads, especially for larger units. Grade A space made up 70% of last year’s take-up.

Same-day delivery is driving demand: Amazon Prime same-day, Chinese e-commerce entrants and urban population growth to 2035 are all fuelling appetite for fast-delivery space. Last-mile fleets are also shifting towards vans, EVs and cargo bikes, which changes location, layout and power needs.

Supply and planning are the pressure points: Less development is expected over the next four years, pointing to tighter supply. Industrial is also competing with data centres and housing for land, so the big question was whether planning can keep pace with demand.