With the likes of Grand Central Birmingham and Mall of Scandinavia scheduled to open later this year, and George Osborne’s pre-election budget including money for regeneration schemes in Brent Cross and Croydon, the shopping center scene is certainly an evolving one.
The progression of shopping centers as must-visit destinations has seen malls incorporate a variety of activities—dining areas, cinemas, bowling, arcades, and special play areas for children. It’s more than just a visit to the shops; it’s a whole day out filled with dinner and entertainment. 2015 will see several new destinations opening.
Grand Central Birmingham
This year sees the biggest shakeup in retail in Birmingham since the Bullring opened in 2003. Innovative malls are being built, new stores are coming, and the old centers are going through a transformation so they can both complement and compete with the new developments.
The Mailbox will open its redeveloped retail space in phases from July, culminating in a celebration event in September. Harvey Nichols at the Mailbox is currently undergoing a major renovation by Sterling Prize winner Stanton Williams, and the store is also doubling in size.
Grand Central Birmingham is due for completion in the second half of the year. The development will be home to more than 40 premium fashion and lifestyle shops, including a 23,225-square-meter John Lewis anchor store, alongside 20 cafes and restaurants.
The Pavilions was once Birmingham’s prestige shopping center but has lost some retailers due to the competition in the area. Shops still operating include Laura Ashley, Moss Suit Company, L’Occitane, H&M, and Evans, with an opening for Marks & Spencer at the end. Primark bought the center last year with plans to create a four-floor superstore.
Resorts World is thought to be the biggest leisure and entertainment destination in the UK and the whole of Western Europe. The development is located adjacent to the NEC and will include 50 shops, a hotel, a spa, restaurants, bars, a casino, and an 11-screen cinema.
Mall of Scandinavia
Scheduled to open in autumn 2015, Unibail-Rodamco’s Mall of Scandinavia offers a high-level range of shops, restaurants, and services. This unique combination of shopping, entertainment, restaurants, cinema, and service sets it apart for the Swedish market. The 100,000-square-meter development will comprise 230 stores and 22 restaurants. Flagship stores will include Sweden’s first-ever Disney store, Superdry, and the first-ever Michael Kors in a Swedish shopping center. Others include H&M, which will take three stores, Cos, and Starbucks. It will also house a 6,000 sq m Åhléns department store across two levels. Popular Swedish supermarket Hemköp will also take a unit, alongside the country’s only liquor store, Systembolaget, and ICA grocery. The Designer Gallery will be a dedicated area for contemporary and premium retailers.
intu Milton Keynes
Plans to remodel and transform parts of Intel Milton Keynes have been unveiled. Proposals from INTU for the prime 39,948 sq m shopping center will, according to the company, see one of the most significant retail and leisure developments central Milton Keynes has seen in over a decade.
Work focuses on remodeling the centrally connected Midsummer Boulevard area. A new dining quarter, over two levels, will deliver a choice of places to eat in a relaxed and comfortable environment. A five-screen boutique cinema will provide an alternative cinema experience with luxurious seating and a high-quality food offer.
External green public spaces will provide a platform for community events and entertainment as well as a relaxing area for lunchtime workers and families, retaining Milton Keynes’ position at the heart of the community.
The Broadway Bradford
Owned by Meyer Bergman with Westfield acting as the development partner, The Broadway in Bradford is a £260 million development located in the heart of the city. Work began at the end of 2013, with the shopping center scheduled for completion at the end of 2015. It will comprise 52,954 sq m of floor space, with 70 retail units anchored by Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, and Next.
Westgate Oxford
In March, the Westgate Oxford Alliance, a joint venture between Land Securities and The Crown Estate, confirmed the appointment of Laing O’Rourke as the principal contractor for Westgate Oxford. Chapman Taylor has been appointed as the delivery architect on the new £440 million retail and leisure development. The 74,300 sq m scheme will create a contemporary retail environment in four separate building blocks surrounded by new public routes and spaces. It will include more than 100 stores, 25 restaurants and cafes, a boutique cinema, and rooftop terrace dining.
Croydon
Over the next few years, the Croydon Partnership will transform the town’s two main shopping centers, Whitgift and Centrale, into a retail and leisure destination that will reposition Croydon as a key place to shop, work, and live in south London. The London Borough of Croydon has resolved to grant planning permission for the Croydon Partnership’s outline planning application for the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre, marking a significant step forward in Westfield and Hammerson’s plans to regenerate Croydon’s retail town center.
Meadowhall
Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield will undergo a £50 million refurbishment program to mark its 25th anniversary. Work will begin later this year and finish in 2017 and will create distinct districts within the center, each with a different finish, including wood and punctured metal. The works will also enable several retailers to install double-height shopfronts. Other plans include new wayfinding, mall seating, and lighting, as well as a dramatic lighting artwork.
Brent Cross Cricklewood
Brent Cross Cricklewood is a planned new town centre development in Cricklewood, by Hammerson and Standard Life. The development will include 7,500 homes, 370,000 sq m of offices, four parks, transport improvements, and a 55,000 sq m extension of Brent Cross Shopping Centre. As well as a much wider range of shops, the site will comprise new evening entertainment to provide the area with a thriving nighttime economy, including a cinema, dining options, and a network of covered streets and spaces.
