Meadowhall, one of the UK’s most successful regional shopping destinations, has received a resolution to grant planning consent for a £300m extension, which will transform the centre’s leisure offering for its 24 million annual visitors.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the 330,000 sq ft development from owner, British Land.
The extension will integrate with the front of the existing centre featuring dining and entertaining options, a new cinema, café court, gym, open-air terrace and space for leisure, event and community use.
The Leisure Hall will follow a £60m refurbishment that is transforming the look and feel of the existing centre. This work will be completed during the autumn, ahead of the peak Christmas trading period, and has directly benefited the local economy with 70% of the work commissioned from companies within 25 miles of the centre.
In anticipation of increasing customer interest in Meadowhall as a result of this comprehensive refurbishment, 40 retailers have invested more than £34m in redesigning and refitting their existing stores to fit the new contemporary feel. These include All Saints, Hollister, House of Fraser and Hugo Boss with a further 30 currently underway.
In the 12 months to June 2017, all 61 occupiers with leases due to expire renewed their tenancies and eight of these retailers increased the size of their space within the centre in advance of the refurbishment’s completion.
Thirty new brands have also signed at Meadowhall over the last 18 months, with Flannels, Tag Heuer, Nespresso, Neal’s Yard and Godiva all adding to the centre’s premium offer.
Charles Maudsley, Head of Retail, Leisure and Residential for British Land, said,
“We are delighted with the Planning Committee’s decision and will now work with our partners and other stakeholders over the coming months on the detail of the Leisure Hall to ensure Meadowhall delivers the maximum benefits for customers, retailers and the wider Sheffield City Region.
“The refurbishment completing later this year, our continued leasing success, significant store investment by retailers and the Leisure Hall proposals are all significant steps in the centre’s continued evolution.”