UK retail landlord intu has launched the £72 million leisure extension to intu Lakeside this week to attract millions more people to one of the UK’s most popular shopping destinations.
The 225,000 sq ft expansion, anchored by some of Britain’s biggest and best leisure operators, is set to increase intu Lakeside’s 20 million footfall a year by more than two million and transform the centre into a major south east tourist destination.
Puttshack’s second site plus one of Hollywood Bowl’s largest venues and trampoline park brand Flipout have now opened there and a fourth leisure anchor, Nickelodeon’s first UK family entertainment centre, will launch in the autumn
The Hall, the first out-of-town concept form expansionist food hall operator Market Halls and a range of other restaurants including new brands Chiktopia and Casco Lounge have all joined intu Lakeside’s growing dinner offer.
Two former car parks were transformed into the new area which overlooks intu Lakeside’s 22-acre lake as well as a new 7,000 sq ft public realm space featuring landscaped areas and integrated lighting, sound and water-powered technology to further engage visitors.
Matthew Roberts, intu chief executive, said, “Compelling leisure experiences are well-recognised drivers of shopping centre footfall and dwell time and a project of this scale is a real first for the UK market.”
“It has been created to ensure intu Lakeside remains one of the country’s most popular retail and leisure destinations for many years to come and we have curated a fantastic of mix of flourishing leisure and dining brands to guarantee its success.”
RPA Perspective The new space and a £10 million investment in the rest of the centre, which will create new entrances and lighting and overhaul mall space linking to the 175,000 sq ft development ahead of several major leisure brands opening there this summer, has also been welcomed by retailers including Zara and River Island which have in turn invested millions extending and refurbishing their intu Lakeside stores.
intu has also unveiled its vision to develop over 1,000 homes at the site as part of its new five-year strategy and, under this new strategy, is exploring other opportunities to build new homes, hotels and flexible-working spaces and transform its centres nationwide.
Located at the south end of the centre, this new development will bring a mix of over 1,000 modern homes to rent, catering for individuals, couples and families alike, creating high quality, community living in the heart of Essex and just 30 minutes from Fenchurch Street.
Early designs for the development also include public and private open spaces, dedicated lifestyle facilities, lakeside views, and a range of attractive landscaping and design features integrated with the existing centre, ensuring residents can benefit from everything that intu Lakeside has to offer.
Martin Breeden, development director at intu, said: “This new community will be the next phase of major development of our flagship locations and is something we announced in our annual results earlier this year. Our aim is to create something very special, that will sit alongside an established and thriving destination.”
