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Strong retail performance pulls in new retailers at Ayr Central
10.11.06
The race for space at Ayr Central is heightening as Henry Boot Developments has agreed terms for a total of 18,000 sq ft with five new retailers at the award winning £75 million shopping centre in Ayr, south west Scotland.
River Island, formerly based in the Kyle Street shopping centre in Ayr, is one of the UK's most successful fashion retailers, and has agreed terms for unit 3 within Ayr Central which totals 1,115 sq m (12,000 sq ft).
Meanwhile Quiz Clothing, a high street chain specialising in women’s and girls' fashion clothes is planning to take a 15 year lease for 232 sq m (2500 sq ft) and major UK shoe shop Clarks has agreed terms for 167 sq m (1800 sq ft). Finally Mobie, a new mobile phone retailer in the UK will take an 84 sq m unit (900 sq ft) and Cherry Soda, a brand new female accessories retailer, is planning on taking 37 sq m (400 sq ft).
Finally JD are opening a new retail concept in Unit 5 372 sq m (4000 sq ft) on the 5 December, with Ayr chosen as the first store in the UK to house this new brand.
Sales performance for all existing tenants including Debenhams, the 7,432 sq m (80,000 sq ft) anchor store, H&M, Primark, HMV, Au Naturale and Costa Coffee continues to exceed the retailer own sales targets, which shows that the much publicised down turn in retail sales does not affect Ayr.
The new shopping complex’s presence is already stimulating additional development and retailer curiosity in the area and is now attracting an amazing 104% of Ayr's immediate catchment area each week. Ayr, which was recently named in a study of the world's travel trends as one of the world's top travel destinations for 2007, is now bracing itself for a major influx of visitors from around the world.
Designed by architects i10 Design, Ayr Central is a highly-specified, prime retail hybrid development and quality external finishes are in keeping with the traditions of the town centre which includes Caithness slab and red sandstone.
Ayr Central houses 'Skye Square' - the first new open air public space to be created in Ayr for more than 300 years, where there is a bronze and steel sculpture of Robert Burns and his Border Collie ‘Luath’.
Henry Boot Developments manager
Alan Kinloch said:
"I am proud to announce these five new deals, particularly in the current difficult retail climate, which further reinforces the attraction of Ayr Central. I am particularly delighted that River Island is relocating off the high street into the centre of this development as this further demonstrates that retailers now consider Ayr Central to be the new prime pitch in Ayr.
I am also pleased to report that all of our tenants bar one are surpassing their forecast, with our anchor reporting the strongest opening week in any of its new stores including London. What this is telling us is that whilst there are areas in the UK that retail is suffering, there are also areas in the UK that retail is flourishing."
Springford & Co, Culverwell and Jones Lang LaSalle are agents for Ayr Central.
