Only a week after announcing five new brands at its Friars Walk development in Newport, Queensberry Real Estate has confirmed that Mothercare will be joining the scheme. Mothercare will take a 6,200sq ft unit which will also house an Early learning Centre toy shop at the 390,000 sq ft development, due to open on 12 November this year.
The global parenting retailer, which provides parents and parents-to-be with the best quality and most innovative products, will join other recently announced brands including JD Sports, Krispy Kreme, Occasions Cards, Pandora and the Candle Company.
Stuart Harris, Director and Co-Founder of Queensberry Real Estate said: “In a period when many retailers are looking to consolidate their physical presence, Newport is clearly standing out as a destination of choice for many well-known brands. This latest letting, complete with the five announced last week, is testament to Friars Walk’s appeal ahead of its opening on 12 November.”
As one of the fastest growing towns in Wales, Newport is undergoing a comprehensive programme of regeneration, of which Friars Walk is a central part. Lying between the River Usk and Newport’s existing retail core, the scheme aims to reconnect a disjointed part of the cityscape and create a cohesive, attractive and accessible urban realm.
The scheme integrates seamlessly into Newport’s existing retail and leisure line-up, bringing more than 390,000 sq ft of modern, well-configured retail and leisure space. It will include a full offer Debenhams department store, 35 retail units including Next, H&M, Top Shop, River Island and New Look, an eight screen Cineworld multiplex cinema, 11 restaurants, 350 parking spaces and a major new bus station interchange.
On completion the scheme will provide an estimated 1,200 jobs worth around £15 million in salaries a year to the local economy. This is in addition to the jobs created during the construction phase and the potential for local companies to be involved in the supply chain of the centre.
The letting agents for Friars Walk are Lunson Mitchenall, Cooke & Arkwright, Nick Young & Co and CBRE.