Footfall improving at Intu shopping centres
Intu has reported a gradual improvement in footfall in its UK shopping centres since non-essential retail stores began reopening on 15 June.
In addition, the owner of Intu Trafford and Intu Merry Hill said footfall across all 13 Intu centres has improved by 7% following the introduction of mandatory face coverings for shoppers on 24 July.
Some 85% of brands at the centres are now open including 68% of food and beverage and leisure brands. However, Intu said there have been some regional variations with Scotland seeing a particularly positive rebound. Footfall at Intu Braehead is currently at 92% of 2019’s levels and Intu Watford is at 60%.
Intu entered administration in June after failing to secure an agreement with its creditors, although its centres are continuing to trade.
Jim Tucker, joint administrator of Intu Properties and partner at KPMG, said: “A shopping centre environment, by its nature of being a private space, can be more closely managed and the visitor experience adjusted carefully. Safety measures can be put in place to control the number of people in a location at any one time, managing the flow of people ensuring social distancing guidelines can be adhered to, and making sure that face coverings are worn throughout.
“This level of control over a shopping environment creates a place where visitors and brands can interact with some peace of mind, something that cannot always be achieved in an open, unmanaged space. And from the data, we can see that that this peace of mind is encouraging more people back, more quickly.”
