Fashion giant signs up to take centre stage

Swedish-owned H&M is expected to open a 17,000 sq ft store at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, in Huddersfield, this autumn following a 1m refurbishment of the building. It has taken a 10-year lease on an annual rent of 275,000.

Kingsgate owner and landlord WD Huddersfield appointed Marshall Construction to reconfigure the premises and create space for the new store and will start work this spring. H&M will be among the largest stores in the shopping centre and will join existing retailers which include House of Fraser, Next, Clintons, River Island, TK Maxx and Currys.

Jonathan Newns, a partner at King Sturge, which brokered the deal, said: "Attracting H&M to Kingsgate Shopping Centre re-enforces growing interest in the scheme from well-known national and international brands."

Hartnell Taylor Cook represented H&M while Rees Denton and Brian Oakwell & Associates are joint agents for WD Huddersfield.