Leeds, like Hull, is enjoying a retail regeneration, with two major schemes under way. In March, the Government Office for Yorkshire & Humberside approved plans for the £675 million, 1.3 million (120,000 sq m) Eastgate & Harewood Quarter development by the Leeds Partnership, a joint venture between Hammerson and Town Centre Securities.

The scheme is anchored by a 258,340 sq ft (24,000 sq m) John Lewis store and the developers are in final negotiations for a second department store anchor, according to Hammerson assistant director Rob Hancox. There will be more than 100 retail units in all. Talks have also begun with potential major space unit operators, although Hancox is in no hurry to do deals. “Demand is very strong, so there is no point doing a bad deal now,” he says.

The scheme will comprise three districts. “What we don’t want to build is a shopping centre that just gets helicoptered into the city. We are trying to build three component parts,” says Hancox. These will include the best of the British high street “with a unique Yorkshire twist” in Templar Street and leisure and catering in Lady Lane. Luxury and aspirational brands will feature in Harewood Court, which will essentially be an extension of the Victoria Quarters that is home to top-end brands such as Louis Vuitton.

The company has acquired 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the site, according to Hancox, and will go to compulsory purchase orders next month. Detailed architect appointments – 36 names have been shortlisted – will be made in the coming weeks. Enabling works are under way, but work will not start in earnest until early 2009, with a target opening date of March 2012.

Opening ahead of the scheme will be Trinity Leeds, a joint development between Land Securities and Caddick Developments, which combines the regeneration of centres they each own. Caddick’s old Burton Arcade site will be developed alongside the Leeds Shopping Plaza owned by Land Securities. “We are doing the whole thing as one development and one team,” says Caddick director Johnny Caddick.

Many of the tenants in the new centre will be existing tenants upgrading to larger sites. “The quality retailers will stay and upsize,” says Caddick. The development will principally feature fashion retailers, he says, with mid- to upper-market and branded fashion retailers in particular being targeted. “The quality of finish will be something quite special and it is going to be a quality centre,” he says. Demolition work will begin later this year, with building work due to start in January. The scheme should be completed by September 2010.

Both schemes will attract retailers that have previously been unable to get the size of units they are after. “There has been no major development in Leeds in recent years. We want to make sure we create an environment for the fashion brands,” says Caddick.

Hancox agrees. “We are not trying to cannibalise what’s in Leeds; we are catering for pent-up demand. We think there is more than enough room for everybody,” he says.

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