Bury’s £350m Rock ‘will open over 90% full’

12 November 2009 11:55 Comments (0)

Thornfield today hands over a 103,000 sq ft unit to Debenhams at The Rock in Bury confident of further lettings prior to opening in July 2010.

Peter Warden, director of Thornfield, said he believed the scheme would be over 90% occupied when it opens on Friday 16 July 2010. The scheme is currently 70% let by floor area with seven further deals in negotiation.

The Rock will contain 500,000 sq ft of retail in more than 60 shops. The second anchor, Marks & Spencer, will take control of its 77,000 sq ft unit at the end of November.

Other retailers already signed up to the scheme include Next, River Island, Primark, H&M and Peacocks.

In addition to shopping, Bury residents and visitors will be able to go to the 10-screen Vue cinema, play at the 24-lane AMF bowling centre and dine in 120,000 sq ft of restaurants run by Pizza Express, Nando's and others.

There will also be 408 apartments, yet to be released to market, and a 1,250 car park. A healthcare centre and relocated church have already been completed near the 1.6m sq ft scheme.

Newly appointed centre manager, David Laycock, employed by managing agent DTZ, said he expects to begin naming the rest of his management team in February.

The Rock was designed by BDP and is being built by Laing O'Rourke. Agents on The Rock are GCW, CBRE and Nick Green & Co.