£120 million mall to boost Wigan into premier league
Modus Properties has started work on site on the£120 million Grand Arcade shopping centre in Wigan. Completion is due to take place at Easter 2007, at which point Modus claims the scheme will boost Wigan from 131st to 84th in the UK national retail hierarchy.

The 425,000 sq ft (39,485 sq m) scheme is anchored by a 105,000 sq ft (9,755 sq m) Debenhams store. In addition, Modus has exchanged contracts with Bhs, Marks & Spencer, HMV, WHSmith, JD Sports, Next, Waterstones, Hennes, JJB Sports, Clintons, Streetwise Sports, Chisolm Hunter and TK Maxx, meaning that more than 75 per cent of the scheme's floorspace has already been let.

Letting agents Lunson Mitchenall and SY Moorhouse Wright have only 22 units still available, ranging from 1,000 sq ft (95 sq m) to 4,000 sq ft (370 sq m). Modus Director Mike Riddell said: 'There is a demand in Wigan for this type of modern retail centre and Grand Arcade will provide the space and critical mass that retailers want.'