Councillor Mike Evans, Chairman of Whiteley Parish Council, was the special guest at a ‘ground-breaking’ event to mark the start of work at the 300,000 sq ft Whiteley retail development.
The event, organised by Quatro, was attended by Meridian TV, two local radio stations, the Portsmouth News and the Southern Daily Echo, Solent Life and a local website.
In December 2011, the Whiteley Co-Ownership Trust, a joint venture between Universities Superannuation Scheme (“USS”) and British Land, announced the first retailers for the 300,000 sq ft Whiteley development. Lettings at the £64 million scheme have now reached approximately 50% by floor area, with M&S and Next committing to anchor the scheme. The development, which is set to open in Spring 2013, will comprise over 50 units designed to accommodate a wide range of national and local retailers, restaurants, cafés and other facilities, with 1,136 free car park spaces. Other pre-lets include H&M, Boots, JD Sports, Bank, Sports Direct, Frankie & Benny’s and Starbucks.
The attached picture shows Councillor Evans (centre), with Kevin Freeman, Senior Project Director from McLaren (right) and Andrew Rollings, Managing Agent for the Whiteley development (left).