Forecourts evolving into multi-purpose destinations as demand for sites remains high, Christie & Co report reveals
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has today launched its annual Business Outlook report, 'Business Outlook 2026', which reflects on key market activity, trends and challenges of 2025 and forecasts what 2026 might bring across the industries in which Christie & Co operates, including the forecourt sector.
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Against the backdrop of difficult trading conditions in high street retail, the report highlights that the forecourt sector experienced high demand throughout 2025. Independent entrepreneurs continue to be attracted to the needs-driven nature of forecourts, while investors are drawn by the security of tenants who enjoy the resulting strong trading fundamentals, despite increased taxes and enforced operational cost burdens following Budget measures.
The report highlights that the roadside retail environment is undergoing a significant transformation, with traditional petrol filling stations being reimagined into multi-purpose destinations to draw customers. Smaller sites are attracting interest from EV infrastructure providers and car wash operators, while larger plots are being redeveloped to include enhanced convenience offerings such as franchised coffee, food-to-go, and wellness-oriented products that resonate with younger consumers.
Encouragingly, banks remain confident in lending for both forecourt acquisitions and redevelopments, buoyed by the sector’s diversification and the extended relevance of ICE vehicles. Delays in electric vehicle adoption and insufficient government incentives have extended the timeline for transitioning away from conventional fuels, reinforcing investor confidence and prompting a resurgence of private equity and significant capital inflows, supported by banks whose ESG agendas have softened.
In 2025 Christie & Co advised on forecourts with a combined value of over £603 million, with an average of five offers per site sold, and in December Christie & Co acted in the sale of Gardner Garages to Roadside Real Estate PLC, marking Roadside’s first group acquisition and topping off a busy year of transactions.
Looking to the year ahead, the report outlines Christie & Co’s market predictions:
- Continued site consolidation, with smaller sites repurposed and larger sites redeveloped to add value
- Banks maintaining confidence in lending for acquisitions and redevelopments
- Demand exceeding supply, sustaining a ‘seller’s market’
- A conventional fuel sales decline remains uncertain, as EV rollout delays persist
- Investment demand from petrol filling station operators driving early lease renewals and extensions
Steve Rodell, Managing Director - Retail & Leisure at Christie & Co, commented, “The forecourt sector is evolving rapidly, and operators who embrace diversification and experiential design will be in a good position for success. With strong demand for sites, supportive lending conditions, and extended relevance of fuel vehicles, we expect the market to remain highly active in 2026.”
Click here to read the full report: https://www.christie.com/news-resources/business-outlook-2026/retail/forecourts/
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