Retail Property - Raft of signings for £70m Harlow Water Gardens

Wilson Bowden Developments has signed up five more retailers for its£70 million Water Gardens retail and leisure development at Harlow in Essex.

Next has signed up for 1,395 sq m; C&J Clark for 465 sq m; JD Sports for 695 sq m; Pizza Hut for 230 sq m and Esquires Coffee for 165 sq m, with a further 5,110 sq m in solicitors hands.

In an earlier spate of lettings Asda took 6,970 sq m; Matalan 3,820 sq m and Esporta 2,745 sq m, which means that phase one of the Watergardens, is already 90 per cent pre-let ahead of its opening this Summer. Phase two will opening for Christmas 2004.

Wilson Bowden Developments development manager Neal Dale said: 'The recent lettings are a massive boost for this scheme, guaranteeing its success in this highly-competitive market.'

Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker and Sanderson Townend & Gilbert are letting agents.