Commercial Property News

Warner Estate Holdings has announced, on behalf of its Agora Shopping Centre Fund, a joint venture with Bank of Scotland, that an impressive list of leading fashion retailers has signed pre-lets for Agora's £40m addition to Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton. H&M;, Zara, Warehouse, Lush, Principles, Office, Joy and Starbucks will all be opening their first stores in Bolton, whilst Carphone Warehouse is taking a second store in the town.

A total of 96,416 sq ft of new space is being created within the Grade II listed Victorian Market Hall, which adjoins Market Place Shopping Centre. The Market Hall is being restored and will house innovative retail space designed by architects van Heyningen and Haward.

Market Place Shopping Centre currently totals 320,000 sq ft and is the prime retail space in Bolton, anchored by Debenhams, Next, Boots and River Island. Construction of the new retail space will begin in Spring 2007, and will be completed for trading by Christmas 2008. H&M; is taking 19,881 sq ft and Zara is taking 16,103 sq ft.

Warner Estate asset manages Market Place for the Agora Shopping Centre Fund. Michael Stevens, Property Director at Warner Estate, comments, "We are delighted to have attracted such a high calibre of retailers to Market Place Shopping Centre, and are confident that we will have more pre-lets to announce shortly. Our proposals will restore the Market Hall to its former glory and will confirm Market Place Shopping Centre as both the number one retail destination in Bolton and one of the North West's premier shopping destinations."