Latest figures are released as owner Derwent gets set to begin work on phase two of the park, which will deliver more than 145,000 sq ft of additional retail and leisure space. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool Shopping Park says footfall at the Edge Lane location was up 60% year-on-year during January.
During the month there were 135,158, a 50,439 increase on January 2018, with average shopper dwell time 98 minutes, a figure that owner Derwent claims has been increasing steadily month on month since spring last year.
The latest figures are released as Derwent gets set to begin construction work for phase two of the park, which will deliver in excess of 145,000 sq ft of additional retail and leisure space.
It is investing £30m in this next phase, which will include a leisure block comprising a six-screen cinema, a new state of the art Hollywood Bowl, as well as a gym and five restaurant units on the ground floor. A separate building will accommodate a 60,000 sq ft anchor retail store and a further 16 smaller retail units.
Hugo Clark, Group property managing director at The Derwent Group, said: “In light of the challenges facing the retail sector nationally, it is hugely encouraging that Liverpool Shopping Park is performing so well.
“Phase two will add a very strong leisure component to the mix and consolidate Liverpool Shopping Park’s position as a compelling retail and leisure destination in its own right. As we announce more new tenants and operators for the second phase, we fully expect to see continued interest and growth in the park’s performance.”
The first phase of Liverpool Shopping Park opened in October 2017 and includes high profile brands including Next, M&S Food Hall, River Island, H&M, Chiquito, TK Maxx and Smyths Toys. Construction of phase two will start in summer 2019 and is expected to be complete by Autumn 2020. McMullen Wilson and CSP are the letting agents. AEW are the architects.
The Derwent Group is part of the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation and operates in the retail, leisure, industrial and commercial sectors. The group’s retail portfolio extends to 1.74m sq ft across nine retail parks in the north of England.