Press Releases

The British Property Federation (“BPF”) is pleased to announce Morgan Garfield, Head of Capital Partnerships at NewRiver REIT, as the new Chair of the BPF Retail Board, effective 7 March.

Morgan has a proven track record in retail real estate and will bring leadership to a board that has in-depth knowledge of the retail landscape and represents retail investors across the UK. He co-founded Ellandi, a retail and town centre investment management firm. Growing the business over 16-years to have over 30 shopping centres under management with a value in excess of £1.25bn, before being acquired by NewRiver REIT in July  2024. NewRiver owns and manages 80 retail assets across the UK, providing valuable scale and insight from which Morgan will draw and share in his role as Chair.

Morgan has been involved in the acquisition and management of shopping centres across the UK, ranging from local community centres to major destinations. He has worked successfully with a variety of stakeholders from investors to debt providers,  local authorities, occupiers and community groups.  His breadth of experience gives him vital insight into the investment case for retail and how to create successful thriving destinations.

Morgan is a passionate advocate that retail and town centres are critical societal infrastructure that should sit at the heart of communities. In this capacity the real estate sector work with local stakeholders to create thriving communities and better places to live, work, shop and socialise. He brings an energy and passion to the role of Chair and will work with members to highlight the pivotal role and positive impact that the property industry plays in towns and cities across the UK. He will promote the investment case for UK retail to a broad audience of investors and stakeholders and advocate for government policy that facilitates investment in real estate to the benefit of communities.

As Chair of the BPF Retail Board, Morgan will continue to articulate the BPF’s calls for business rates reform and an amended Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 to streamline the commercial leasing process, support the decarbonisation of buildings and enable empty and underutilised space in town centres to be repurposed.

In addition, the Board under Morgan’s stewardship will seek greater co-operation between occupiers, and specific areas of focus will include improving the energy performance of assets and supporting the roll out of electric vehicle charging and rooftop solar through the removal of unnecessary planning requirements.

The BPF’s Retail Board will champion partnerships between local stakeholders across the public and private sectors to develop a long-term vision and plan to improve local areas. Within these Town Centre Investment Zones local stakeholders would gain new policy powers and incentives to enhance investment viability and drive through rapid high-street change.

Morgan Garfield, new Chair of the BPF Retail Board, said, “I am honoured to  take on the role of Chair of the BPF Retail Board. Our high streets, town centres and shopping centres are the lifeblood of the economy and our local communities. We have seen huge structural changes, that were accelerated by Covid, and retail is now at an inflection point. Retailers and consumers increasingly appreciate the value of physical shops in an omni-channel environment - and communities and government appreciate the value of place within our towns and cities. This creates an opportunity to invest, to curate and to shape vibrant retail places that will  help drive long-term societal and economic prosperity.

This is an exciting time in retail property and I look forward to communicating this to investors and stakeholders. It is also critical that the BPF and its members help shape a  policy and regulatory environment that encourages investment and delivers vibrant towns, jobs and places that people want to live, shop and socialise. 

I would like to thank Allan Lockhart at NewRiver, the departing Chair, for his work over the last few years and look forward to continuing the positive work that is underway with the Board members.”

BPF Retail Board members include: M&G Real Estate, Landsec, Aberdeen, Pepper Media, Hammerson, Cadogan Estates, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, British Land, CBRE and Shaftesbury Capital.