Derwent’s £11m Liverpool Shopping Park expansion given go-ahead – Place North West

A further 70,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space will be constructed at the Edge Lane complex after the city council granted planning approval for the project.

Derwent Estate’s £11m scheme, which is being delivered on behalf of the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, is already 90% pre-let before a spade has even hit the ground.

Hollywood Bowl will occupy 35,000 sq ft having signed a 20-year lease that will see the leisure operator’s existing unit at Liverpool Shopping Park refurbished.

Meanwhile, Tesla is set to open a new 20,000 sq ft car showroom having also agreed a 20-year lease.

Two new drive-thrus will be operated by Five Guys and Costa Coffee, which have both signed 15-year leases.

These operators will join M&S Food Hall, H&M, Nike, Greggs, Next, Smyths Toys, and JD Sports, among others, at the shopping park.

James Maule-Ffinch, senior asset manager at Derwent Estates, said: “The fact that we have managed to pre-let the majority of this latest phase so quickly is testament not only to the appeal of the Shopping Park but also the high quality of the units.

“Only two units of 3,000 sq ft remain and we are already in advanced negotiations with potential operators for both, which we hope to announce soon.”

A contractor for the scheme is due to be announced soon with a view to a summer start on site.

Maule-Ffinch said the success of the complex in attracting tenants is largely down to its location.

“The prominent location of Liverpool Shopping Park, fronting Edge Lane, means that it has immediate appeal to retail and leisure operators.

“This next phase in the park’s development will increase it in size to 235,000 sq ft making it one of the region’s largest and most popular out-of-town retail and leisure destinations.”

ATP Planning is the planning consultant advising Derwent Estates with RGP leading on design. Drees & Sommer is the project manager.

McMullen Real Estate and CSP are the retained letting agents for the scheme.

Further down Edge Lane, Derwent has recently agreed a 20-year lease with Howdens for the former American Golf building.