St Modwen debuts at BCSC next week
Details of the next phase of the £100m regeneration of Wythenshawe town centre will be high on the agenda for St Modwen when it appears at BCSC 2009 in Manchester.
St Modwen will appear at the British Council of Shopping Centres Conference & Exhibition for the first time and is using the event as a platform to showcase its plans for 2010.
Michelle Taylor, regional director of St Modwen, said: "We want to talk about the major retail schemes that we have on site, for example at Wembley and Farnborough, and we will be launching some new schemes due to start next year, such as the new phase at Wythenshawe and Connah's Quay. We've also got some future proposals to discuss for schemes in locations such as Liverpool and Hednesford in the Midlands."
This year's BCSC event will take place at Manchester Central and Bridgewater Hall from 9 to 11 November, the fifth time it has been held in the city.
Representatives from John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser will be present, as well as The Body Shop, Tie Rack, Next, Primark and New Look. A number of landlords, developers, consultants and corporate partners are also set to attend, including Land Securities, British Land, Hammerson, CBRE and DTZ.
Taylor added: "Our schemes act as the catalyst for wide scale, comprehensive regeneration in the areas that need it most, bringing investment, growth and a better environment for businesses, organisations and the community to share in.
"For example, Wythenshawe town centre has seen its footfall increase substantially in recent months. 2009 has been a particularly busy year there with only two units now available in the entire shopping centre. A new phase has just been completed and only one unit remains available. The next phase is pre-let to Netto and Wilkinsons, and there will be a further four smaller units available. Construction on this will be starting in the new year."
Netto and Wilkinson will occupy space at its three-acre Etrop Court retail development in the second quarter of 2010, which fronts Poundwick Lane at the northern end of The Birtles.
Discount supermarket Netto took a long lease for 125 years on a 12,000 sq ft store for £2.3m, while household goods retailer Wilkinson has taken a 23,000 sq ft building on a 15-year lease at £7.25/sq ft. Both deals were secured in March this year.
Taylor added: "The types of retail I've mentioned are expanding quite rapidly, particularly supermarket chains. This kind of retail is often the foundation of our regeneration schemes which makes the BCSC particularly valuable for us this year."
St Modwen is also delivering 4,000 sq ft of new office space, seven retail kiosks from 300 sq ft to 935 sq ft and 79 additional free car parking spaces within the Wythenshawe revamp.
As well as Wilkinsons and Netto, Betfred Bookmakers is leasing a 1,300 sq ft unit, Debonair Childrenswear is renting 1,100 sq ft and Harvey and Thompson, jewellers and pawnbrokers, is taking 1,140 sq ft within the £2.2m Haletop East extension to Haletop Parade in the scheme. St Modwen has also secured deals with Barnardo's, Perfect Home, Sue Ryder Care and Euro Deli for in Wythenshawe. The units are all let on 10-15 year leases at rents from £22/sq ft to £25/ sq ft.
Risley-based St Modwen opened the 15,000 sq ft Haletop East retail and office development in Rowlands Way in April.
The British Council of Shopping Centre's Conference & Exhibition is the largest gathering of retailers and the retail property industry held in the UK. Around 2,000 delegates are expected to attend.
The event is sponsored by Ireland's Chartered Land.
- Visit http://www.bcsc.org.uk/conference/ to book delegate places and exhibition space. For more information on the Conference & Exhibition please contact the BCSC events team on 020 7227 3450.
