Shopping centres have seen a resurgence in consumer footfall this year, after consistently losing business to online retailers during the recession. This has allowed developments such as Whiteley Shopping Centre in Hampshire to flourish in the past twelve months, with the centre having enjoyed a hugely successful first year since opening last May.
Whiteley Shopping Centre revealed on its first anniversary that more than 4.7 million consumers visited in its first year of trading, allowing the owners to invest in a new leisure extension due to open next summer. The £18 million leisure development will lie to the north of the existing park and has already confirmed tenants such as Cineworld, Nando’s and Coast to Coast – altogether creating around 180 new jobs in the area.
There are already more than 1,000 people employed at Whiteley and the construction phase created jobs for around 1,900 workers in the building and specialist contractor sectors. This second phase of construction has also created numerous positions for local labourers working within the building trade.
Whiteley Shopping Centre has proven to be a popular destination for shoppers both within the region and from further afield, with its opening last May attracting a crowd of more than ten thousand. According to centre manager Neil Carter, this surpassed early expectations, as did the annual footfall total, and he expects retail sales to grow further as Whiteley continues to build on its offering.
At present, around 85 well known high street brands have taken up units within the complex, with nine local independent retailers and a range of family restaurants creating a diverse atmosphere. Early successes allowed Whiteley to add to the initial 50 occupied shops and restaurants, with eight new tenants including Monsoon, Wagamama and Phase Eight all signing leases in the year since the centre opened.
Although the creation of Whiteley Shopping Centre came with a hefty £84 million price tag, excluding the cost of the construction of the leisure facility, it has taken great steps to rejuvenate Hampshire’s economy and create employment for young people in the local area. In part this is due to the “community” aspect it strives toward, having thrown a party with activities and a £10,000 shopping spree giveaway to celebrate its first anniversary.
Shopping centres can play a vital role in the economy of any region, as Whiteley has proven; perhaps it is time for developers to examine the possibilities economic recovery has afforded in other regions of the country.
