Direct investment in retail real estate in Europe during 2010 totalled more than EUR 20.6 bn, representing a 68% uplift on 2009 (EUR 12.3 bn), according to Jones Lang LaSalle. Some 50 transactions were recorded in Q4, accelerating total volumes to EUR 6.7 bn, almost 80% up on Q3 and comfortably the busiest period of the year.

Over the course of the year, the European retail real estate market saw approximately 50 deals of at least EUR 100 mln, together totalling just under EUR 10 bn, half of the annual total transacted.

Twenty of these were completed in Q4 - most notably the British Land acquisition of Drake Circus shopping centre in Plymouth, UK, for over EUR 275 mln in December and Rockspring's EUR 224 mln purchase at the end of October of a 51% stake in OParinor shopping centre, Paris. Jones Lang LaSalle advised on both transactions.