Land Securities hopes to pre-let 95%of Western Europe’s biggest retail complex by opening date next year

Western Europe’s largest retail project, Trinity Leeds, is set to complete next year and open on 21 March. Retailers have begun fitting out some of the 120 stores in the a 1 million ft2 complex in the heart of Leeds city centre.

Developer Land Securities’ project director Neil Read said the developer is aiming to pre-let 95% of the complex by its opening date, and it is currently 85% pre-let.

The scheme – conceived pre-recession and shelved for 15 months between March 2009 and August 2010 due to market uncertainty – is being delivered by contractor Laing O’Rourke and cost consultant Sweett Group.

Read said Trinity Leeds will offer an “open street scape” and a higher proportion of leisure and food outlets to typical shopping centres at 22% of capacity, in response to changingconsumer demands. These will include 12 restaurants, bars, cafes and a cinema. Land Securities expects half a million people a week to visit the complex.