BELFAST's Victoria Square has retained its title as the leading shopping centre in Northern Ireland, according to an industry guide.
The latest ‘Going Shopping 2019 – The Definitive Guide to Shopping Centres’, published by Trevor Wood Associates has named Victoria Square as number one in the north for an eighth consecutive year.
CastleCourt and Derry's Foyleside Shopping Centre retained their positions of second and third, while the Abbey Centre also kept fourth spot with Rushmere Shopping Centre remaining in fifth.
Kildare Partners, owners of Foyleside and Forestside shopping centres has been ranked as the leading investment manager in Northern Ireland. Tristan Capital Partners has fallen to second place, while HJS Developments remains in third. Commerz Real and CastleCourt owners,Wirefox complete the top five.
The leading letting agent remains Lambert Smith Hampton according to the guide. It is followed by Savills and CBRE, with Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers International rounding out the top five.
For the second consecutive year, Costa Coffee is the leading shopping centre tenant in the UK, with 289 units in 259 of the Top 500 centres. The other top five spots went to Card Factory, EE, New Look and Boots.
Speaking at the Belfast launch of the guide at the Merchant Hotel yesterday, Jonathan Martin, director of retail agency at Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) said:
“LSH already has the largest retail and property management teams in Northern Ireland and the company continues to invest in staff and new technology.
“This year we have won a series of significant shopping centre instructions with NewRiver REIT, Sovereign Centros and CBRE GI. We now manage 48 shopping centres and retail parks across the UK and Ireland.”
Trevor Wood Associates has published its extensive analysis of the UK’s shopping centre market for more than three decades. This year’s report once again ranked schemes above 50,000 sq ft by overall attractiveness to shoppers, retailers and investors.
