Page 55 - #198 April 2025

With adaptable units ranging from 300sq ft to a two-storey building on Queen Street along together homes, shops, cultural venues and
5,800sq ft, brands can also combine units to with a new entertainment venue that will have public spaces. It will make a major contribution
create anchor stores. Loxton Walk aims to appeal capacity for up to 2,200 people. to the creation of a dynamic, forward-looking
to and bring together a diverse mix of retail and The Elephant, a landmark building undergoing town centre that reflects local ambitions and
hospitality businesses, from independent coffee a transformative £132M redevelopment in secures a bold future for the area. The North
shops and full-service restaurants to retailers the heart of the capital by developer Publica End Quarter masterplan will see the delivery of
spanning across wellness, lifestyle and amenity. Properties, has officially reached its topping- a more sustainable and better-connected town
With its initial elements first opening in 2015 out milestone. The iconic former House of centre core through a network of public spaces,
and with new part of the project due to open Fraser building at 318 Oxford Street, London green areas and pedestrian friendly streets.
through 2026, the transformation of Riverside W1 is being reimagined as a vibrant mixed-use Construction is not expected to begin until 2028.
Sunderland is happening at a pace not seen in office and retail destination, featuring a marquee Two stops from London Bridge and four
decades. Only a few years ago, the former Vaux restaurant on the eighth floor with 360-degree stops from Waterloo, Canada Water is already
site was undeveloped brownfield, having stood – views across the city. Set for completion in one of London’s best-connected places. Its new
unloved – since the closure of the brewery at the autumn 2026, The Elephant will offer 366,000sq chapter will include everything from flexible
turn of the new millennium. Now, the 32ha site ft of premium commercial space including a workspace and labs and a new high street and
is undergoing change that is creating a dynamic, state-of-the-art gym, a 25m swimming pool and town square to 12 acres of new public realm and
carbon-neutral urban quarter – a flagship for a 42,600sq ft of retail units. The project has been a new 3.5 acre park. Inspired by its rich heritage,
city that is brimming with ambition. Riverside designed to preserve and enhance the structure Canada Water’s sustainable two million square 3
Sunderland is plugged into the pulse of city centre with upmost attention to adapting the existing feet of state-of-the-art work and lab spaces,
life. From independent stores selling everything building structure and minimising embodied one million square feet of world-class retail and 3. The Elephant, existing structure instead of the plans Foster
Oxford Street,
from high-end designer clothing to luxury cakes carbon. The plans include the provision of new, cultural space, 3,000 new homes and green London, UK + Partners had in place that would have seen
and sweet treats to high-street brands like Flannels attractive shopfronts, extensive refurbishment public spaces will make it one of London’s most Developer: a new mixed-use neighbourhood created.
Publica Properties
and H&M, the city centre has a rich retail scene of the existing façade and the creation of highly exceptional places to work, live, relax and grow. 4. The Boulevard, Developer Landsec has secured planning
Banbridge,
which is attracting more and more traders. In flexible, open floorplates for varied uses. They The first phase of the Canada Water masterplan Northern Ireland permission from Cardiff City Council to
addition, new leisure and cultural venues are are also incorporating a large-scale elephant completes this year, delivering 300,000sq ft of Owner: Lotus transform a former Debenhams unit into
Group
taking shape, enhancing the offer for people sculpture crafted from recycled steel, symbolising workspace and 13,000sq ft of retail at Three Deal a dynamic 102,000sq ft city square. This
visiting Riverside Sunderland. The scheme is being the project’s commitment to sustainability and Porters and Dock Shed, a new leisure centre for investment underscores Landsec’s long-term
developed by Sunderland City Council and their innovation in urban placemaking. On the interior, Southwark Council and 186 new homes at The commitment to retail, reaffirming confidence
partner Igloo Regeneration. the existing sixth and seventh floors have been Founding. Under development by British Land in in the sector’s future and its ability to
An ambitious centrepiece for Huddersfield removed and replaced with three new floors. a joint venture with AustralianSuper, the project drive sustainable economic growth. The
and the whole of Kirklees, the upcoming Our MGAC is providing project management, cost is a wide-ranging one and is not expected to be redevelopment, designed in collaboration 4
Cultural Heart project will breathe new life management and health + safety services for the fully complete for the next 10-15 years. with over 5,000 local residents, will respond
into the town centre. Bringing vibrancy into project which is reflective of a wider shift in the The Glasgow-based Threesixty Architecture to consumer demand for high-quality transformation is a result of almost £10M interior design elements such as timber
the area between Queensgate, Queen Street, industry to reduce embodied carbon through has replaced Foster + Partners on the leisure experiences, green spaces and investment by the centre’s owners ahead of walls, solid wood flooring and showcases
King Street and Victoria Lane, this new hive of the strategic reuse of existing building materials. redevelopment of Buchanan Galleries and family-friendly environments. St David’s the opening of the new landmark Primark new collections in menswear, womenswear,
culture will deliver a surprising, inclusive and social Croydon council has endorsed Unibail- will refresh the shopping centre on Buchanan continues to be the destination of choice store ‘in the coming months’. Another kidswear, footwear and accessories. The
destination for all. Due to launch in summer 2026 Rodamco-Westfield’s ‘masterplan’ for the Street. Landsec, the site owner, has appointed for leading retailers, with numerous brands addition has been that of Costa Coffee, four new stores join a host of major retailers
by developers Kirklees Council, the first phase regeneration of the boroughs town centre. The Threesixty Architecture to develop the 1990s choosing the centre for their debut in Wales. which opened in March. such as Calvin Klein, River Island, Zara,
will feature a food hall, library and public square ‘masterplan’, endorsed by the local authorities structure. The building was originally designed by In late 2024, international fashion retailer Hollywood Bowl Group is opening a Flannels and Mango that are housed in
whilst the second phase (due to open in 2029) will planning committee intends to establish Jenkins & Marr Architects and the new designs are Pull&Bear, British womenswear brand second location in Northern Ireland as part of Blanchardstown Centre.
include a museum and art gallery. Future phases principles to transform the North End Quarter yet to be revealed. Threesixty are understood to Sosandar and Danish homeware brand a £9M redevelopment of Co Down shopping Hammerson has announced that it has
will include an urban park and the renovation of into a vibrant, mixed-use destination that brings be working on an approach which will reuse the Sostrene Grene all opened their first Welsh development The Boulevard. Landlord signed JD Sports and Space NK at Dundrum
stores at St David’s. and owner Lotus Property submitted a Town Centre, as it continues to attract
With the huge success of Rushmere notice for full planning permission for a high-profile brands, new concepts and
Shopping Centre, which has benefitted from 23,000sq ft 21-lane bowling alley back in July. market firsts. JD Sports will almost double
a £20M investment, a new access road is It will kick off a bid to transform the western its footprint at Dundrum, to over 22,000sq
planned to make it easier for shoppers to visit part of the discount retail park outside ft when it opens in spring this year, making
the complex. The Craigavon centre is now Banbridge into a 60,000sq ft ‘food and it one of the biggest in the UK & Ireland.
Northern Ireland’s largest retail complex and entertainment quarter,’ Lotus Property said. The leading trainer and sports fashion
welcomed a record number of shoppers last In addition, marking a decade of culinary brand will meet the increasing demand
November and expects ten million visitors excellence, Salt Kitchen in Banbridge has for athleisure, which continues to be a top
through the doors in 2025. This follows a doubled in size and moved to a new, larger performing category across Hammerson’s
multi-million-pound transformation and the space within The Boulevard shopping outlet city-centre assets and estates. The new
addition of 13 new stores that completed mall, creating 15 new jobs. store demonstrates the appeal of
in late 2024. Towards the end of last year, Dundrum Town Centre and is reflective of
A multi-million-pound refurbishment of Blanchardstown Centre in Dublin, Republic Hammerson’s wider strategy to attract new
a Co Antrim shopping centre is to pave the of Ireland announced the opening of four audiences with in-demand brands, social
way for the arrival of Northern Ireland’s new stores. A new flagship for The North and entertainment offers. Space NK
newest Primark store. Fairhill Shopping Face has opened doors, along with new meanwhile, which is the UK’s biggest
2
Centre in Ballymena has announced an tenants Phase Eight, Hobbs London and beauty only retailer, will open its second
1. Our Cultural Heart, Huddersfield, UK extensive internal revamp and branding Accessorize. The four new stores have store in Ireland at Dundrum Town Centre,
Developer: Kirklees Council
2. City Square, St. Davids, Cardiff, Wales project, which is says underscores its between them created over 40 new jobs. as the beauty retailer expands its footprint
Developer: Landsec
commitment to ‘enhancing the shopping The new The North Face store spans an in the country following its inaugural site
1 experience for its customers’. The ambitious impressive 2,500sq ft and features unique on Grafton Street.

54 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2025 APRIL 2025 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 55