Relocation to Almondvale West frees space for new store
Next is to more than double its store size with Hines, relocating from The Centre, Livingston, to the adjacent Almondvale West retail park. The retailer is taking 25,000 sq ft plus a full cover mezzanine offering womens’, menswear, childrenswear and homeware. Concessions include a Lipsy, Paperchase, Costa Coffee and a barber. Click and collect facilities will also be available.
Works to deliver a new fully glazed shopfront, which is being reconstructed following the vacation of Matalan in October 2017, is to begin in February 2018 and is scheduled for completion in August 2018 with Next launching the new store in early 2019.
Almondvale West retail park is to undergo a £3.5m refurbishment to enhance the buildings and public realm to include new wayfinding, glazed facades, cladding and car park resurfacing. Work on the refurbishment will start in February. An active leasing campaign will see the focus of the park evolve to include new brands in homewares and fashion.
Sharon Bloodworth, director of shopping centre asset management for Hines UK, said: “This letting, with its purpose built glazed frontage, is the first step in the evolution of the retail park as we look to improve the tenant mix and to deliver a modern, well-located retail location. Securing an occupier of the calibre of Next within two months of the previous unit vacating is testament to the strength and breadth of Livingston as a retail destination.”
Hines owns both the shopping centre and retail park in conjunction with clients of HSBC Private Bank advised by HSBC Alternative Investments. Eric Young & Co and Savills represented Hines. 3DReid are the architects for the project.
