Global Insights, Local Impact: Ishbel Jones reflects on UK vs Australian retail markets

After three years in the Brisbane retail leasing market, Ishbel Jones heard London calling. As a senior surveyor for P-Three she’s been immersed in UK real estate since April, serving a range of clients across prime developments in London. 

 With the next chapter in her life now underway, we asked Ishbel to share her reflections on the differences between the two markets, the pros and cons of each, and how her experience of both will shape and inform the way she serves P-Three’s growing client base.

Ishbel says that this difference isn’t just an operational one - it’s one of culture. Does one model stand out as being better? She believes the UK approach leads to a deeper, more committed relationship with many benefits.

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UK agents are often closer to the ground,” she says, “constantly active in multiple markets and regions, which keeps them highly attuned to shifts in consumer preferences and brand trajectories.

For all the similarities and crossovers between British and Aussie culture, for Ishbel Jones moving to London has meant discovering a “new landscape in retail leasing”.

It’s never easy navigating a new landscape, but it can be exciting; and Ishbel is fired up by the experience. 

“As someone transitioning between the two,” she says, “I’m energised by the opportunity to bring fresh ideas across borders and challenge old assumptions.”  

But what does this “new landscape” look like through a new pair of eyes? What are the biggest differences? And what can we all learn from Ishbel’s unique experience?

Most striking of all, says Ishbel, is the predominant role that agencies play in the UK compared to the market back home.

“In Australia, it's very common for landlords to handle leasing in-house, particularly in major centres. In contrast, British landlords often partner with leasing agencies to manage lettings, even for substantial portfolios.”

And Ishbel says that this difference isn’t just an operational one - it’s one of culture. Does one model stand out as being better? She believes the UK approach leads to a deeper, more committed relationship with many benefits.

“UK agents are often closer to the ground,” she says, “constantly active in multiple markets and regions, which keeps them highly attuned to shifts in consumer preferences and brand trajectories. Their broad visibility enables quicker matchmaking between landlords and emerging brands, fostering a more responsive leasing environment. 

In turn, she says, there is another major benefit - leasing agents are more strategically aligned with their clients’ interests.

“In Australia, while tenant rep models exist, brands often rely heavily on internal real estate teams to chart expansion plans. In the UK, agents are not just transactional facilitators; they're integral strategic partners  

“For international brands entering the market, this is particularly valuable. Agents bring intimate local knowledge, credibility, and access to a deep network of landlord acting agents, accelerating market entry and reducing risk.”

One of the things that Ishbel has already picked up on about UK real estate - our stringent planning regulations which can we more onerous and time consuming than Australia - is a source of much disquiet among agents, developers and occupiers, made more frustrating by the fact that, her experience shows, not all property professionals have to endure them.

But while UK planning laws have their fierce critics and undoubted downsides, Ishbel says that there are positives and opportunities we don’t always recognise.

“The UK’s tighter urban planning laws and heritage listed sites often lead to smaller, quirkier units, which in turn demand more creative leasing strategies. In Australia, more modern infrastructure often means larger footprints and more flexibility with new units on high streets.  

“This contrast fosters different mindsets: in the UK, agility and adaptability are paramount. In Australia, efficiency and scalability often take precedence. Understanding how these structural factors impact tenancy mix, operational models, and consumer experience is critical for me moving into this new leasing market.”

It’s one of the many things Ishbel is learning, and assimilating, now that she’s part of the London scene. There are granular details like these, and there are the wider, cultural trends.

Is it too early to make big-picture comparisons? Perhaps. But Ishbel has already identified some key distinctions between the two markets.

She says: “While the British market feels more evolved in some areas like such as urban integration, Australia has its strengths, especially in the execution of major master-planned retail precincts, data-driven tenancy curation, and consumer-centric design.  

“There’s plenty both markets can learn from one another.”