26 Jul 2010
Scheme continues to attract big name retailers with widespread unit upgrades and several new names for the town
Today, the £66m redevelopment at The Mall Blackburn sees the introduction of a 50,000 sq ft Primark anchor, the fashion giant's 200th store which has been unveiled alongside a new Costa Coffee and a 5,500 sq ft WH Smith.
The 200,000 sq ft extension creates a 650,000 sq ft hub anchored by Debenhams, Bhs, Tesco and now Primark, along with 110 other unit shops and MSUs. The Mall will see further high street names open in the coming weeks, including an 11,000 sq ft Peacocks - the first in Blackburn, a 15,000 sq ft Next, a 16,000 sq ft New Look, and Carphone Warehouse. A new 68,000 sq ft indoor continental market will also begin trading within the scheme by Spring 2011 and Topshop will extend and refurbish their existing unit to create a new 6,500 sq ft LSU, following River Island who opened an extended 8,300 sq ft store in 2009. JD/Bank and USC are in solicitors' hands to take units of 10,000 sq ft and 6,000 sq ft respectively and are expected to open for Christmas trading.
Mark Bourgeois, Managing Director of Shopping Centres at Capital & Regional, commented, "Capital & Regional and Aviva Investors have worked in partnership with Blackburn Council to deliver a fabulous investment for the community of Blackburn and the surrounding Lancashire towns. We are all delighted to see it coming to fruition with 89% of units taken. This extension and refurbishment significantly strengthens Blackburn's position in the region's retail hierarchy, providing the right amount of additional space to meet the modern requirements of our retailer customers. The investment by so many retailers is a real vote of confidence in the town centre and the scheme."
The Mall Blackburn is asset managed by Capital & Regional and fund managed by Aviva Investors. The joint letting agents are Montagu Evans and Tushingham Moore.
