Merseyway festive trading up
Managing agent GVA said Christmas footfall at Merseyway shopping centre in Stockport hit its highest level since 2009.
In the trading week before Christmas Day more than 216,000 people visited the centre, a 4.2% increase on the same week in 2012. It was also the best performing week since GVA took over the management of the 300,000 sq ft centre in 2009 on behalf of UK Asset Resolution, which manages the closed mortgage book of Bradford & Bingley.
The number of shoppers at Merseyway for December as a whole exceeded one million for the third successive. The centre is now more than 95% let, with 87 out of 91 units occupied.
Jacqueline O'Shea, director at GVA, said: "As the UK emerges from the grips of a prolonged downturn, we're witnessing an increase in consumer confidence reflected by an ever rising number of visitors to Merseyway.
"People are starting to loosen their purse strings and in particular, like to spend that bit more on gifts for friends and family at Christmas."
