Hines, acting in a capacity of an asset manager, has secured new leases at The Centre, Livingston, with a range of top retail brands including Hotel Chocolat, New Look, Specsavers and schuh Kids. Located in West Lothian, the centre employs over 1,100 members of staff and is home to over 160 retailers.
Hotel Chocolat moved into The Centre in late August, taking 1,433ft² of space on a five-year lease. In addition, New Look will increase their presence in The Centre, relocating from their current store into a larger 10,700ft² space. The high street fashion brand will complete its move into the new space in early 2020.
Specsavers will also relocate from its current location into a larger space at The Centre, taking a 10-year lease on a 3,502ft² unit. Fashion brand schuh, which is located adjacent to Specsavers’ current store, will then expand into the vacated unit allowing the footwear retailer to introduce its schuh Kids range into The Centre.
The latest store openings and expansions, signed with long-term leases, underline The Centre’s continued popularity with retailers and shoppers. The Centre saw a record 16.6 million visitors over the past year, with visitor numbers up 8.3% on this time last year.
Sharon Bloodworth, Director of Shopping Centre Asset Management at Hines, said: “The Centre continues to attract the UK’s biggest and best-loved retailers, providing a dynamic mix of retail and food and beverage brands. At a time of disruption in retail, The Centre is bucking the national trend, with retailers seeing record footfall and introducing new ranges. Livingston’s population continues to grow, and our retailers are successfully combining their digital and physical stores, with more than 40 retailers offering click and collect services at The Centre.”
