McArthurGlen to expand Ashford designer outlet with new luxury quarter
McArthurGlen is to double the size of its Ashford designer outlet with the opening of a new luxury and premium shopping area.
The expansion will add a further 175,000 sq ft of retail space to the centre, which was designed by Sir Richard Rogers and opened in 2000. The new luxury quarter will take up 75,000 sq ft of the new space and will be completed by the end of 2016.
Gary Bond, McArthurGlen’s managing director of development, said: “Ashford is already home to some of the most sought-after premium and designer brands in the UK. What we are seeing, given the good communication links with London, as well as with Continental Europe and the coast, and the emergence of London as a global shopping destination, is the rising demand for more luxury and premium brands.”
He added: “With the planned expansion of Ashford, we will be creating the next generation of designer outlets, taking the customer experience to a new level, and bringing in exciting new luxury and premium brands to tap into this demand.”
Never Miss a Retail Update!Following the expansion, the Ashford centre will offer around 358,000 sq ft of retail space and an additional 80 shops, bringing the total to 165 stores. This will make it one of the largest designer outlets in the UK.
McArthurGlen is expecting to make a planning application in early 2014 with works to start in late 2014.
Bond said: “We have received tremendous support from the local authority of Ashford, who fully understands how the expansion of the centre will not only create jobs, but also further establish Ashford Designer Outlet as a shopping destination, which in turn benefits the local economy, especially the tourism sector.”
Brands to have opened in 2013 at Ashford designer outlet include Abercrombie & Fitch and Twenty8Twelve as well as French Connection, Geox and Asics.
McArthurGlen has a portfolio of 20 designer outlets in eight countries across Europe, six of which are in the UK.
