Coopers Square shopping centre in Burton-on-Trent is to benefit from an expansion which will create four additional retail units. The extension will see a new block erected on the centre’s existing car park, just off the town’s busy Station Street.
Bosses at the centre have confirmed that a number of retailers have already approached them with a view to taking up space within the extension – a welcome indication of a returning air of confidence in the retail industry, which was for so long plagued by growing vacancy rates and falling profits for many businesses.
Unfortunately, it appears that department store Debenhams will not be one of the retailers battling for space at the extended centre, as it pulled out of a deal at the end of last year.
According to local media, the collapse of the deal was due to Coopers Square owners F&C REIT refusing to meet demands for the centre to be extended; a somewhat ironic situation given the newly proposed plans submitted to the local authority.
Yet centre manager Dave Chadfield insists that the new extension plan was not a result of Debenhams’ request but rather a means of increasing the retail offering for consumers. He also points out that this new extension will be on a much smaller scale than that proposed by Debenhams, meaning that work should hopefully be completed in time for the new year.
He says; “This is something the owners say is required – there is a need to create space which is in demand.
“It’s looking to the future, there is a turnaround in retail at the moment: it’s very positive and we want to put something there for them.
“We showed some potential tenants around last week and they are very keen, they like the idea.”
Mr Chadfield confirmed that talks have not resumed with Debenhams following the decision to extend the centre, saying that the company was not “currently on its radar”. However, Debenhams bosses claim that they will continue to look for opportunities to establish a presence in the Burton area.
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