Global shopping centre giant Westfield has the two most attractive shopping centres in the UK following its opening in Stratford in east London last September.
According to research by Trevor Wood Associates, Going Shopping – The Definitive Guide to Shopping Centres, which ranks Britain’s shopping centres on their overall attractiveness to customers, Westfield’s 1.9m sq ft centre at Stratford City has been ranked the most attractive centre in the UK.
Meanwhile, the developer’s 1.6m sq ft equivalent in London’s Shepherds Bush rose from last year’s third place to take the second slot.
The MetroCentre in Gateshead, Bluewater in Kent, and Meadowhall in Sheffield were respectively ranked third, fourth and fifth most attractive.
The research also showed how the recession is having a big impact on the mix of tenants in major shopping centres.
High street chemist Boots is now rated as the leading tenant in UK shopping centres, climbing from third place and replacing ailing chain Clinton Cards, which dropped from top to seventeenth position. Struggling computer game retailer Game has also dropped out of the top 10. New entrants to the top 10 include Costa Coffee, Card Factory and Phones 4 U.
The research also identified just 87 proposed new schemes or major extensions to existing schemes that are thought likely to proceed before the end of 2018.
annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com
