Tops Estates PLC - Retail Development - Worcester, The Cathedral Plaza

Date: 20 Feb 2003

Tops Estates PLC, the specialist investor in town centre shopping and leisure centres, is pleased to announce excellent development/refurbishment progress at its West Midlands shopping centre, acquired in 2000 – The Cathedral Plaza (formerly Lychgate Shopping Centre), Worcester

Following obtaining possession last month of the former Department Store, the re-design of the Centre and reconfiguration are moving ahead rapidly to achieve our objective for the successful enhancement and dynamic expansion of the Centre.

The construction contract was awarded to Balfour Beatty and, last month, works commenced for the conversion and extension, to allow additional retail space, enabling the presence of new flagship stores.

Due to the resilience of the prime retail 300,000 sq. ft. shopping centre, the major fashion stores, which include Top Shop, Burtons, Top Man, Monsoon, Edinburgh Woollen Mills, Country Casuals and Jaeger, will be joined this Autumn by three new anchor stores - Next (22,000 sq. ft. on the Ground and First Floor), H. & M. Hennes, Europe's largest fashion retailer (22,000 sq. ft. on the Ground and Lower Ground Floors), and Slaters Menswear (9,000 sq. ft. on the Second Floor), Negotiations are advanced for further lettings to other leading fashion
retailers.

The Centre is also supported by a 26,000 sq. ft.
Sainsburys Supermarket.

Early next year, the second phase of the redevelopment will follow, with the provision of an additional 35,000 sq. ft. of space to provide further flagship stores, following the agreed release of space, presently part of the 102 bedroom hotel operation.

Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Construction Newsletter » Submit news