Retailers invited to Broadway showcase (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Retailers invited to Broadway showcase

7:28pm Tuesday 5th August 2008 in Bradford By Chris Holland, Business Reporter

Westfield, the developer of the £320 million Broadway shopping centre, is to showcase Bradford to influential retailers and property agents in a bid to drum up more tenants for the scheme.

They will hold an event in the city on Wednesday, October 1, to whet the appetite of would-be tenants.

Leading retailers and agents from the region and across the UK are expected to attend the event and view Westfield’s range of marketing materials and see the site for themselves.

The news comes as Westfield confirmed that 50 per cent of the space in the planned shopping mall has been let, with jewellers Beaverbrooks being the latest tenant to be announced.

Retailers already committed to the scheme include Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Next, River Island, Topshop and Topman, Miss Selfridge, Evans, Burton, Wallis and Dorothy Perkins.

David Slade, director of leasing for Westfield, said: “We’re delighted by the level of interest that has been shown to date and this is demonstrated by the fact that half of the scheme is already leased.

“We’re now focused on promoting the scheme to the wider retail industry and fundamental to that is to invite retailers to Bradford so they can see first hand the potential that exists in the city.”

Peter Miller, director of design, development and construction, said: “We’re very much looking forward to showcasing the scheme in Bradford and Westfield remains committed to delivering a modern, state-of-the-art shopping centre for the population of Bradford and beyond.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “Westfield’s leasing launch is the next step in attracting new investment into Bradford.

“By holding the event in the city, it will give local business people the best possible opportunity to get involved in this exciting scheme. It is great news for Bradford that national and local retailers are increasingly committing to the development.

“Even in the current economic climate, retailers are confident about investing in our city, with its growing population and ongoing regeneration.”

The groundworks stage of the retail mall have been completed. Westfield said it had invested about £80m in the scheme and would proceed with construction once more tenants had been confirmed.

The scheme will include more than 100 retailers and an 800 seat cafe-style food court. There will also be offices, residential apartments and 1,750 car parking spaces.