July 2010
Over 70,000 shoppers witnessed the opening of the £350m Rock Shopping Centre on Friday, the largest new shopping centre to open in 2010.
GCW and CBRE, acting on behalf of Hammerson, who are the current asset managers of the 640,000 sq ft scheme, have now let in excess of 85% of the total floor space.
The development is anchored by a 77,166 sq ft Marks & Spencer, 103,000 sq ft Debenhams and 50,000 sq ft Primark, alongside leisure operators Vue, who has installed the only other extra-large VueXtreme screen outside London and a 24 lane AMF Bowling.
Nick Warr commented that “the quality of this development has truly put Bury on the retail map”.
“We have secured an unrivalled fashion offer for the North West, with Next, River Island, Top Man/Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins/Burtons, Cult, H&M, JD/Bank, Oasis, Hurleys and Primark opening stores.”
“The town is now very well placed to fight back against competing shopping centres and attract a far greater number of shoppers, with two million residents living within a 30 minute drive”.
The scheme which opened on schedule saw the majority of retailers and restaurants open on time, with some very high quality shop fits, including a number of “Westfield” shop fits.
Half of the retailers are new to the town and Cult have opened their first store outside Liverpool within the region.
A number of further lettings will be announced shortly. A further 2 units have just been placed under offer, which leaves only 8 of 60 shops available.