Londoners face the longest average daily commute in the UK, but there’s good news on the horizon for commuters facing the daily trial of getting to and from work.

Londoners face the longest average daily commute in the UK. That’s according to a recent study, which revealed workers in the capital spend on average 75 minutes a day travelling to and from work, compared with 52.8 minutes nationally.

For anyone who’s unlucky enough to get the Tube in rush hour, that means 22.2 minutes longer of inhaling the nauseating smells of your neighbour’s armpit.

While this depressing finding isn’t likely to change any time soon - and will probably increase as even more people spill into the capital to chase better job opportunities - there’s some good news on the horizon for commuters facing the daily trial of getting to and from work.

That good news comes courtesy of Transport for London (TfL), which is poised to start work on a major overhaul of the London Underground. Commuters might still have to spend a disheartening amount of time on the Tube but, thanks to a significant injection of cash, the shopping provision in and around stations is about to get a whole lot better.

TfL’s mission to increase non-travel sales four-fold to £1.1bn by 2022 will mean the large, complex network of stations will be brought in line with modern retailer requirements. For retailers and landlords the upshot will be a new array of stores in varying sizes and locations to choose from.

TfL’s plans to capitalise on one of London’s last untapped retail estates isn’t the only welcome news for those in retail property to celebrate - across the UK, international brands are targeting gateway cities and prime locations. Retail Week charts the arrival of new retail names to the UK on page 4 and reveals what flagship openings are imminent.

It’s not just international retailers that are creating waves in UK property - the rise of e-stores has certainly got landlords’ attention. Big-name retailers such as Argos, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer are blurring the edges of online and physical trading with the introduction of digitally sophisticated stores.

Elsewhere on the high street the big supermarkets are also contributing to a sense of renewed activity. As Sainsbury’s small store portfolio overtakes supermarkets for the first time and Tesco, the Co-op and Morrisons aggressively expand their convenience portfolio, the hunt for small space is intensifying.

From a new generation of convenience stores and the rise of the hybrid e-shop, to the re-imagining of the London Underground retail network, activity is the order of the day for property professionals. The time for inertia is over as the UK property market reawakens from a period of stagnation.

Laura Heywood, Supplements Editor

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