Report | Intelligent Investment
UK Healthcare Sentiment Survey 2026
March 31, 2026 10 Minute Read
Introduction
Following a record-breaking year for transaction volumes in 2025, the UK healthcare real estate sector continues to attract strong and sustained investor interest. This momentum is underpinned by the sector’s track record of long-term stable returns, its resilience across economic cycles, the evolution of operating platforms and care delivery models, and a broader, increasingly sophisticated investor landscape. Against this backdrop, differing dynamics across capital investment, development activity, and operational requirements continue to create both challenges and opportunities within the sector.
CBRE’s UK Healthcare Sentiment Survey 2026 brings together the views of investors, developers, and providers to assess how market sentiment is evolving and where pressures and opportunities are emerging. The survey examines investment strategies, capital allocation, development priorities, and provider growth plans across key healthcare subsectors, including elderly care, private healthcare, and primary care.
Key Findings
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Investor confidence remains resilient amid a widening investor pool, but allocation is becoming more selective
Sentiment across the healthcare real estate market continues to strengthen, with 68% of investors surveyed reporting they had increased their allocation to healthcare in 2025. Positive momentum is expected to continue throughout 2026 as a widening pool of real estate investors plan to expand their healthcare allocations. -
Elderly care continues to dominate investor appetite, however demand for private health assets is growing
Elderly care remains a key target for investors, with further consolidation expected throughout the year, set against a backdrop of abundant capital competing for a tightening supply of purpose‑built stock. Growing demand across the private health sector is also sharpening investor focus on private acute hospitals, with one third of investors reporting that they are targeting this sub-sector. -
Greater use of sophisticated capital structures and operational understanding is reshaping healthcare investment
Greater use of sophisticated capital structures is reshaping investment into the healthcare sector. Strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and the growing role of infrastructure capital are providing clearer pathways for investors to scale. Deeper operational understanding is essential to align capital with operating needs and strengthen asset performance. -
Increasing adoption of hybrid tenure portfolios
Elderly care providers are increasingly adopting blended tenure portfolios that incorporate leases, management contracts, and selective freehold positions. Management contracts are now widely embedded, with 92% of respondents either using or expressing interest in using them. -
Misalignment persists between developer priorities and investor appetite
Misalignment remains between developer priorities, investor appetite, and provider demand. Developers see strong opportunity in mental health and primary care, with 74% expecting increased project activity in 2026. However, the fastest‑growing areas of need such as the North West and parts of the Midlands are not always attracting the development activity required to absorb demand.
Survey profile
The survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of CBRE Research between December 2025 and January 2026.
Respondents include:
Investors
Providers
Developers
The survey covers sentiment and expectations relating to investment allocation, development activity, provider growth strategies, capital structures, and market challenges.
Access the Report
Access CBRE’s UK Healthcare Market Sentiment Survey 2026, featuring investor, developer, and provider perspectives on the outlook for healthcare real estate.
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