Centurion Mall, in the south of Pretoria, is to get a major revamp worth R250-million.

A further 27 000m² of retail space will be added to the existing centre, making it the second biggest mall in Pretoria after Menlyn Park Shopping Centre.

"The revamp was long overdue. Some of the amenities were old and run down," said Louis Norval, the chief executive officer of Attfund, one of the three developers of the centre.

Norval said the 19-year-old mall would be refurbished due to a high demand for office space.

Grayprop and Broll are the other developers of the centre.

Hilton Dukes, leasing agent for Broll, said Centurion had experienced fast residential growth recently and needed a centre which had the latest retail stores.

"Although Centurion Mall has been trading well over the years we are trying to recapture the market that went to other shopping malls," he said.

The revamp will include an extension of the southern and northern nodes of the mall.

The northern extension, or the Bay as it has become known, will have additional restaurants and entertainment shops.

But the centre's management could not reveal which shops would be added, as leasing agreements were still being negotiated.

Woolworths will relocate from its existing position to a new store on the ground floor - as part of an extended fashion mall.

The central atrium from the escalators to the south parking will be revitalised. New facades will be created and existing kiosks and water features will be upgraded.

Parking facilities will be improved and enlarged to accommodate an additional 2 400 vehicles.

The revamp is scheduled for completion in October 2004.

Sunday Times