# British Land reports strong FY26 leasing and upgrades FY27 EPS guidance

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/british-land-reports-strong-fy26-leasing-and-upgrades-fy27-eps-guidance/4121249656
- Published: 2026-04-21T07:42:06+01:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**[British Land Company plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/british-land-company/blnd.l)**(
LON:BLND) has issued an unaudited trading update for the financial year ended 31
March 2026 (FY26), ahead of its preliminary results announcement scheduled for 20
May 2026.

> **Simon Carter, Chief Executive, said:** _“This has been an excellent year of 
> leasing, reflecting our market-leading position in campuses and retail parks, 
> where availability for high-quality space in the right locations is near record
> lows, and occupational fundamentals continue to strengthen, despite ongoing macroeconomic
> volatility._
> _In campuses, we are seeing accelerating demand from a new wave of AI and innovation-
> led occupiers, driving strong rental growth in what remains a supply constrained
> market. Our virtually full retail park portfolio delivered positive leasing against
> previous passing rents of 6.3% in the second half of the year. The dynamics in
> both markets have translated into strong like-for-like rental growth of 6% which,
> combined with development leasing and disciplined cost control, has more than 
> offset higher funding costs. This is expected to deliver Underlying EPS of 28.9p
> for FY26 and together with stable yields and ERV growth, drive an 8.1% total accounting
> return._
> _With continued momentum across the portfolio, including particularly strong Q4
> leasing, and the earnings accretive acquisition of Life Science REIT completing
> yesterday, we are confident in our earnings growth outlook for FY27 and beyond.”_

**Strategic delivery driving total accounting returns and upgraded guidance**

**·     ** **Expect FY26 Underlying EPS of 28.9p, ahead of guidance**

**·     ** **FY26 like-for-like net rental growth of 6%, ahead of guidance, including
12% in campuses**

**·     ** **FY26 total accounting return of 8.1%, within our 8-10% through the 
cycle target**

**·     ** **Acquisition of Life Science REIT completed on 20 April 2026**

**·     ** **Upgrading FY27 Underlying EPS guidance to at least 30.5p (previously
30.2p)**

In London campuses, leasing momentum has been strong over the year, with 215 deals
covering 1,692,000 sq ft and accelerated in Q4 with 834,000 sq ft of deals (c.50%
of the total by floor area). This included in February Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
signing at Broadgate’s latest development, 1 Appold Street, setting record rents
for the campus. Across the wider portfolio, vacancy has continued to be leased up
and occupancy is now 95%, up from 92% at September with the remaining vacancy weighted
towards newly delivered, best in class space where demand is strongest.

Take up of space from AI and innovation-led businesses is increasing across London,
particularly so in the Knowledge Quarter where Regent’s Place is uniquely positioned
to support these high‑growth businesses. This is reflected at One Triton Square 
where leasing velocity has exceeded expectations since its launch in October, and
is now 78% let and 16% under offer, including all of the lab space. We have recently
signed one of the world’s leading AI companies, Anthropic, for 158,000 sq ft. This
is the sixth deal we have done with the business, as our campus proposition supports
their UK growth. They join occupiers such as Gilead Sciences alongside other leading
global pharmaceutical, robotics, AI and technology companies at the campus.

Our retail park portfolio remains virtually full at 99% occupancy. Retail parks 
remain the format of choice for retailers and our parks have continued to see new
entrants this year, which contributed in part to leasing ahead of previous passing
rents at 3.4% (H2: 6.3%).

**For the year ended 31 March 2026, subject to external audit, British Land Company
expects:**

**Earnings**

−    Underlying Profit of £294m (FY25: £279m) and Underlying EPS of 28.9p (FY25:
28.5p).

Portfolio valuation and balance sheet

−    Full year values +2.3%, with campuses +2.0% and retail parks +3.3%.

−    ERV growth of +4.9%, with campuses +6.5% and retail parks +4.4%.

−    NEY down 4 bps at 6.0%.

−    EPRA Net Tangible Assets of 590p (FY25: 567p) and TAR of 8.1%.

−    Loan to value 39.2% (FY25: 38.1%) and Group Net Debt to EBITDA c.7.7x (FY25:
8.0x).

**Operational update**

−    3.8m sq ft of leasing across the portfolio, 7.2% ahead of ERV and 7.6% ahead
of previous passing rent, with a further 1.1m sq ft under offer, 12.9% ahead of 
ERV.

−    Like-for-like net rental growth of 6%.

_Campuses_

−    1.7m sq ft of leasing, 6.3% ahead of ERV and 20.0% ahead of previous passing
rent, with a further 295k sq ft under offer, 17.0% ahead of ERV. 

−    Occupancy of 95%^(1), and 91% occupancy on an EPRA basis.

−    Like-for-like net rental growth of 12%, reflecting strong occupational fundamentals.

_Retail and London urban logistics_

−    2.1m sq ft of leasing, 8.4% ahead of ERV and 1.2% ahead of previous passing
rent, with deals in the second half of the year 5.2% ahead of previous passing rent.

−    Further 838k sq ft under offer, 10.3% ahead of ERV and 8.5% ahead of previous
passing rent. 

−    Occupancy of 99%^(1), and 96% occupancy on an EPRA basis.

−    Like-for-like net rental growth of 2%, reflecting retail park virtually full
occupancy and final overrent burn off.

**Outlook**

−   Now expect FY27 Underlying EPS of at least 30.5p, ahead of previous guidance
of at least 30.2p, following the acquisition of Life Science REIT (c.1% EPS accretion
in FY27, with further to come in future years from the lease up of newly delivered
space and capturing reversion).

−    Reiterate expectation for 3-6% p.a. EPS growth over the medium term.

−    Reiterate guidance for future ERV growth of 3-5% p.a. across our portfolio.

¹ Excluding developments completed in the previous 12 months.

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