Tops Estates has been granted planning permission for 1,860 sq m of new retail space at its Ladysmith shopping centre at Ashton Under Lyme, Manchester.

The two-level extension will begin this year. In the meantime, the mall is 100 per cent let, following a letting to First Choice. The travel company has taken a new 10-year lease on Unit 32 Staveleigh Mall at£55,000 a year, based on £92 Zone A.

Other retailers already represented in the centre include JD Sports; Boots The Chemist; Peacocks; Burtons; Dorothy Perkins; Bodycare; Bonmarche; Mothercare and Internacionale. Colliers CRE and Donaldsons are the letting agents.

Milestone for Arndale Prudential Property Investment Managers has completed the first element of its£150 million refurbishment and extension at the Manchester Arndale centre.

A new 16 m-wide roof light has been created 22 m above Halle Square, bringing natural light into the mall for the first time.

Prudential development director Jon Weymouth said: ‘This is a key milestone in our programme for the redevelopment of Manchester Arndale, and one that has already significantly enhanced the look of the centre.’ On completion, the regeneration programme will bring the number of retailers in the scheme to more than 300.