Four more leading fashion retailers have joined the impressive line up of high street fashion brands secured for the 1 million sq ft redevelopment of Bristol city centre.All four retailers are new to Bristol. Zara and Bershka, two of Spains best loved fashion names, have signed for flagship stores of 22,000 sq ft and 5,700 sq ft respectively, and it is to be one of the first stores in the UK for recent entrant Bershka.
Reiss and Schuh have also signed, joining previously announced retailers such as New Look, H&M, TopShop and Dorothy Perkins who have all committed to MSUs.
These lettings, together with the 170,000 sq ft House of Fraser anchor department store and Harvey Nichols in the heart of Quakers Friars, are set to create one of the strongest fashion offers outside of London with some of the countrys most recognised brands.
Keith Stone, Bristol Alliance leasing director, said; We are delighted to have so many leading fashion retailers committed at this point in the programme, essentially giving Bristol the thumbs up as the UKs next fashion hot spot.
We are now over 50% let by floor area either signed or in solicitors hands which is well ahead of our programme. There are further lettings in the pipeline, including a number of exciting cafés and restaurants which demonstrates how Bristol will make
the dramatic change to a vibrant 24 hour city, reflecting its affluent and aspirational catchment.
Cinema deluxe, with over 3,000 seats is already signed as are other non-fashion retailers such as Virgin, Ernest Jones, Goldsmiths, H Samuel and Fraser Hart.
One of the highest profile mixed-use developments in the UK, the Bristol scheme will provide over 100 retail units, leisure uses including restaurants, cafes and a cinema, as well as apartments, offices and public spaces. Work on the development started in September last year and the main site construction is now well underway with the new ring road recently completed and opened. The development is on track for opening in Autumn 2008.
The overall masterplan includes:
- A four-storey, 170,000 sq ft flagship department store, to be occupied by House of Fraser.
- A 32,000 sq ft boutique store for luxury retailer, Harvey Nichols.
- A further 15 major stores and more than 100 new shops.
- Over 2,600 car park spaces.
- New cycle routes, bus and coach stops.
- Numerous dedicated public spaces, including:
- A new square around Quakers Friars, featuring shops, restaurants and residential apartments, to be anchored by Harvey Nichols
- A new covered civic space in front of the proposed department store.
- A 100,000 sq ft Cinema de Lux with 3,000 seats and 13 state-of-the-art auditoria.
- Significant leisure uses, including bars, restaurants and entertainment facilities.
- 242 residential units, including 24 affordable homes in the heart of the city.
- Upto 310,000 sq ft of new office space with associated car parking.
Source: Land Securities/Bristol Alliance
