Anticipation

is mounting as Land Securities looks forward to the opening of its £350 million Trinity Leeds

development, now less than a year away.

The 1 million sq ft retail and leisure development – the largest under construction in the UK – is now 72% let with a further 8% in solicitors’ hands. A raft of retailers and restaurants now confirmed for the landmark development when it opens next spring.

Land Securities’ portfolio director Gerald Jennings, said: “In spite of the challenging economic climate, there is tremendous demand for space in Trinity Leeds among leading-name retailers and leisure operators, who want to be part of the scheme, which will propel Leeds above Manchester in the retail league table, taking the city from 7th to 4th position in the UK rankings.”

Jennings added: “There is also strong demand for space at White Rose, which continues to out-perform the market and is Land Securities’ top retail asset in the north.

“Demand for space at both Trinity Leeds and White Rose is testimony to the strength of Leeds as a centre for retail and leisure and as long-term investors we are playing our part in ensuring that the city continues to move forward by improving its overall offer, while at the same time providing much-needed jobs for local people. With every new retailer or leisure operator that we bring to Leeds, new jobs are created.”

White Rose, which opened in March 1997, employs 3,500 people and more than 3,000 will be employed in retail and leisure-related positions when Trinity Leeds opens its doors.

“We have confidence in the future of Leeds, which has ambitions to grow and develop through regeneration and has the aspiration of being the UK’s best city,” Jennings said.