Retail property giant Landsec has submitted a planning application to transform Queens Arcade in Cardiff by creating a compelling food, beverage and leisure destination, Retail Week can reveal.
The leisure focus is designed to complement Landsec’s adjacent St David’s shopping centre and the city centre more widely. The initiative was described by Landsec as a “milestone” in its investment in the Welsh capital.
The first phase of the plans include three new restaurants as well as enhancements to the Queens Arcade building.
The intention is to bolster St David’s position “as a leading all-day destination, creating even more reasons for people to visit”. The food, beverage and leisure focus is expected to drive shopper footfall, dwell time and appeal.
Landsec head of retail portfolio Tim Treadwell, said:“These plans represent the next step in our long-term commitment to Cardiff and our vision for the future of St David’s. Landsec has had a long association with the city and we’re excited about its future as one of the UK’s most attractive destinations for retail, leisure and hospitality.
“We believe that our plans for Queens Arcade will help unlock its full potential, bringing even more of what people want to this exciting and growing city. As St David’s continues to go from strength to strength, this investment will build on that success, helping St David’s remain fresh and relevant, a go-to destination for new brands and guests alike.”
Landsec aims to build on the hospitality and leisure offer at Queens Arcade in further phases over the next few years.
The company said St David’s is outperforming the market by footfall, which has risen 2.1% over the last 12 months, compared with a dip of 0.3% across UK shopping centres and a tick up of 0.8% across Cardiff.
Recent openings included the first Welsh branches of beauty retailers Sephora and Pureseoul.
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