UK-based property group Liberty International plc (LBT) says that its New Red Mall at MetroCentre in northeast England, which is owned by its subsidiary Capital Shopping Centres plc, is scheduled to open on October 6, with a strong line up of flagship stores including Hennes (22,150 square feet), Zara (19,000 square feet), River Island (12,600 square feet) and New Look (22,600 square feet).

Announcing their successful letting strategy for New Red Mall, Liberty International said well known retailer Debenhams was well underway with fitting out its 180,000 square feet department store, which would be its leading store in the North East and feature its latest design concept.

Also opening in the New Red Mall's fashion and lifestyle line-up are Schuh, Jones the Bootmaker, Karen Millen, French Connection, USC, The Pier and The Professional Cookware Company. Existing MetroCentre retailers Goldsmiths, Clinton Cards and Game will extend their offering by opening additional units in the new mall.

Commenting on the success of the letting strategy, John Abel, Managing Director of Capital Shopping Centres, said: "We are delighted that the New Red Mall has been able to meet the requirement of retailers for large format stores. We are now virtually fully let and when it opens, MetroCentre will have an additional department store, a wider fashion choice and new facilities to add to its already comprehensive retail offer."

The New Red Mall, which has been designed to fit seamlessly with the existing Red Mall, will increase MetroCentre's retail area to some 1.78 million square feet (165,362 square meters), restoring its position as Europe's largest shopping centre.

As well as the new retail space, the sterling 85 million project will include a new 1,100 space car park, providing direct access to Debenhams and to the New Red Mall. A new state-of-the-art Public Transport Interchange is also under construction, together with road and infrastructure improvements.

Capital Shopping Centres plc (CSC) is the leading company in the UK specialising in the ownership, management and development of regional shopping centres. As well as MetroCentre, it owns Lakeside Thurrock, Braehead Glasgow and six major in-town regional centres, and is engaged on a substantial development programme involving both new city centre schemes in Norwich, Cardiff and Oxford, and extensions to existing shopping centres.

Overall, CSC owns and manages some 8 million square feet of retail space, attracting 175 million customer visits a year.

I-Net Bridge 18 May 2004