Retail parks have emerged as one of the strongest performers in Irish commercial market in 2025. While other commercial sectors faced mixed results, retail parks stood out for their resilience, consistent income, and strong investor demand. This shift highlights how changing consumer habits and long term leasing models are reshaping where capital flows in Irish commercial real estate.
As investors become more selective, retail parks are proving that convenience driven locations and essential retail tenants still offer reliable returns.
Why Retail Parks Performed So Well in 2025
Retail parks benefit from a combination of accessibility, practicality, and stable tenant profiles. Most are anchored by well known brands in groceries, home improvement, and discount retail, which tend to perform well regardless of broader economic conditions.
In 2025, these assets attracted strong interest because they offer predictable rental income and lower vacancy risk compared to traditional high street retail. Investors also see retail parks as easier to manage, with simpler layouts and lower operational complexity.
Another key factor is car based access. As consumers continue to value convenience, out of town retail locations with free parking and quick access have remained attractive to both shoppers and retailers.
Investor Demand Remains Strong
Institutional investors, property funds, and private buyers all showed increased appetite for retail parks throughout the year. Many deals were driven by long leases, inflation linked rent reviews, and tenants with strong balance sheets.
Compared to office properties, which are still adjusting to hybrid working trends, retail parks offer clarity and stability. This made them particularly appealing in a year where certainty mattered more than speculative growth.
Limited availability of high quality retail parks also pushed competition higher, supporting pricing and deal volumes.
How Retail Parks Compare to Other Commercial Sectors
While logistics and industrial assets remain popular, retail parks have narrowed the gap in terms of attractiveness. Office transactions slowed in several locations, especially where older stock requires upgrading. City centre retail also continued to face challenges from rising costs and changing footfall patterns.
Retail parks sit in a sweet spot between necessity based retail and modern consumer expectations. This balance has allowed them to outperform many other asset classes in 2025.
What This Means for the Commercial Property Market
The strong performance of retail parks points to a wider shift in the commercial property market toward assets that deliver steady income and long term stability rather than short term gains. Investors are clearly prioritising properties with consistent demand, strong tenant fundamentals, and clear future relevance.
For developers, owners, and investors, this reinforces the importance of choosing the right locations and maintaining a balanced tenant mix. Retail parks that offer convenience, adaptability, and space for evolving retail formats are better positioned to hold value as consumer behaviour continues to change.
Platforms like FindQo.ie play an increasing role in this landscape by making commercial property data more accessible. By bringing listings, market insights, and location based information into one place, FindQo.ie helps investors and businesses understand where demand is strongest and which commercial assets are gaining traction across Ireland.
Final Thoughts
As Ireland’s commercial property landscape continues to evolve, retail parks highlight how the right asset type can perform well even during periods of uncertainty. For investors and businesses looking to stay informed, platforms like FindQo.ie make it easier to track commercial opportunities, understand market trends, and spot assets that align with long term demand.
Having clear visibility into where value is holding and where momentum is building will remain essential, and retail parks are a clear example of how data driven decisions can make a real difference in today’s property market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a retail park in commercial property?
A retail park is a group of retail units, usually located outside city centres, designed for easy car access and anchored by large retail brands such as supermarkets or home improvement stores.
Why are retail parks attractive to investors in Ireland?
Retail parks offer stable rental income, long leases, and lower vacancy risk. They also benefit from strong consumer demand for convenient shopping locations.
How did retail parks perform compared to offices in 2025?
Retail parks generally outperformed offices in 2025 due to clearer demand and fewer uncertainties around occupancy, while offices continued to adjust to new working patterns.
Are retail parks affected by online shopping?
Retail parks are less impacted than traditional high street retail because they focus on essential goods, bulky items, and convenience based shopping that works well alongside online sales.
Will retail parks remain a strong investment in the coming years?
As long as consumer demand remains steady and supply stays limited, retail parks are expected to continue attracting investor interest due to their reliability and adaptability.
