Sheet Anchor Evolve, part of M Core, acquires The Forum and New Kirkgate retail centres

New acquisitions in Wallsend and Leith strengthen Sheet Anchor Evolve’s position as a leading retail asset manager.

Sheet Anchor Evolve, part of M Core, has acquired two significant retail destinations: The Forum convenience centre in Wallsend and New Kirkgate in Leith, Edinburgh. Specialising in regeneration and the active management of retail assets, Sheet Anchor Evolve will lead the management and transformation of both schemes.

The Forum convenience centre spans 189,539 sq. ft across 47 units, anchored by national retailers including Aldi, Boots, Iceland, and Home Bargains, alongside popular operators such as Specsavers and Greggs.  Serving as a key retail hub for the local community, the asset presents strong opportunities to enhance the tenant mix, reduce vacancy and deliver an improved shopping experience through targeted investment and hands-on asset management.

New Kirkgate, located within a 10-minute walk of Edinburgh city centre and in the heart of Leith, offers 93,867 sq. ft of mixed-use space, including 16 retail units, office accommodation and a large Lidl store. The centre is anchored by well-known convenience retailers, including Poundland, Superdrug, British Heart Foundation, Greggs, and Costa, and benefits from being part of a vibrant and evolving local community.

Danny O’Keefe, Co-Founder at Sheet Anchor Evolve, commented:

"These acquisitions demonstrate our ability to identify strong opportunities where we can deliver real value. Both The Forum and New Kirkgate play an important role in their communities, and we see great potential to reposition and enhance these assets. With our in-house expertise in asset and property management, leasing and development, we’re confident we can create destinations that work for occupiers and customers alike."

These latest transactions are part of M Core’s strategy to invest in well-located retail destinations with growth potential through proactive management. The group now manages over 10 million sq. ft of retail space across the UK, within a £6 billion European portfolio that spans retail, logistics, business parks, residential and office assets.