Next to upsize at WestQuay

High street fashion and homeware retailer Next is set to upscale its store at WestQuay, shopping centre in Southampton as the retail destination continues to expand.

One of the first tenants to rent a unit at WestQuay, Next is set to add an additional 35 percent of retail space to its store, upsizing to a 55,000 square foot in order to showcase its complete range of fashion and soft furnishings. Next joins a growing list of retailers seeking more space with WestQuay, as number of new UK and international brands open up their début stores within the retail centre.

"With a bigger and better Next and the arrival of so many new brands throughout 2015, WestQuay continues to evolve, benefiting retailers and customers alike,"commented Sarah Mander, Assistant Director, Retail Leasing at Hammerson, owner of WestQuay.

"These successes demonstrate the centre’s continuing strength in attracting leading brands and working closely with them to create the very best shopping experience. This reinforces WestQuay’s position as the region’s premium retail, leisure and dining destination."

This trend of retailers upsizing their rental units is one that Hammerson has witnessed across its portfolio of European shopping centres. As more and more consumers move seamlessly between online and offline shopping, the firm anticipates that this trend is likely to continue with more retailers operating fewer, but larger and more interactive stores as part of their multichannel strategies.

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