White City sees £6.5m investment

The White City retail park in Trafford is to undergo a £6.5m redevelopment including the construction of five new units, totalling 59,000 sq ft of additional space.

Ten of the existing units will also be refurbished and the pedestrian walkways improved as part of the investment by owner Derwent Holdings, bringing the total space at the park to 148,000 sq ft.

Manchester-based contractor Russells Construction has been appointed to the job, following the delivery of similar schemes for Derwent at the Ellesmere Shopping Centre in Walkden and the Anlaby Retail Park in Hull. The units will be available for occupation by spring 2015.

Four of the new-build units will be constructed at the west end of the site in phase one, before the fifth new build is built on the east side near to the Currys store in phase two. The majority of the refurbishment of existing buildings will be undertaken toward the end of the programme in phase three.

Gareth Russell, director of Russells Construction, said: "The redevelopment of White City is our third retail park project for Derwent Holdings. Building on our experience of similar projects in Hull and Walkden, we have planned a phased programme which will allow the park to remain fully operational throughout the build and existing businesses to continue trading."

Stephen Perrett of Cheetham & Mortimer has been appointed as the letting agent. The scheme was planned and designed by AEW Architects.