It’s the holy Trinity of shopping

The signing of the Italian designer’s youth label will raise the centre’s fashion credentials when it opens on March 21.

The one million sq ft site, the only major new shopping centre being built in the UK, is now 85 per cent pre-let with a further five per cent in solicitors’ hands.

Developer Land Securities described the centre’s high tenancy levels as “a good result in a difficult market”.

The company’s retail portfolio director Gerald Jennings, said: “The opening of Trinity Leeds underlines the strength of the city as a retail centre and the confidence that retailers – even in these difficult times for the high street – have in Leeds.”

Other new signings include Coast, The Entertainer, Bose, Goldsmiths, Deichmann and Phillip Stoner.

They will join key tenants Marks & Spencer, Primark, Cult, Hollister, Next, River Island, H&M, and Topshop/Topman.

The remaining 10 per cent is likely to be allocated to good quality restaurants and specialist branded retailers.

“With only 10 per cent to go we can be a bit more selective and targeted. The final 10 per cent will be the icing on the cake,” said Mr Jennings.

Land Securities also has plans to expand its White Rose shopping centre south of the city and will soon submit a planning application for a cinema, four new restaurants and the extension of the Debenhams and Primark stores.

White Rose reported strong Christmas trading and said three new all-time footfall records were set over the festive period. Almost 400,000 people visited during Christmas week and a new record of 48,000 shoppers came on Christmas Eve.

The centre reported 70,000 shoppers on Boxing Day – some 4,000 of whom had started queuing from 1am for the Next sale.

Mr Jennings said the vast majority of retailers at White Rose have adopted ‘click and collect’ – one of the big growth areas in retail at the moment.

“More than 80 per cent of retailers at White Rose have adopted click and collect – in which their customers buy online, but pick up their goods in store.

“At the same time, we have signed a deal with Google, who have developed a web-based product search facility that helps attract and navigate shoppers around our centres by providing real-time information about products and promotions,” he said.

Free Wi-Fi has also been launched at White Rose.

“The growth of online shopping is an opportunity for those retailers and property owners who embrace the technology that modern consumers use,” said Mr Jennings.

“At White Rose retailers are seeing this technology from pcs to smart phones as a means to increase customer loyalty and an opportunity rather than a threat.”

He said that the majority of Trinity Leeds’ retailers will also have a click and collect service for customers.

“This maintains footfall and also provides the opportunity to sell to the customer when they come to make their collection.

“In our experience, the customer may also stop for a coffee or a meal and with this in mind the leisure aspect of centres is becoming increasingly more important,” he added.

More than 20 per cent of space at Trinity Leeds will be given to leisure tenants.

“As well as boosting the night-time economy of Leeds because of the later opening hours, leisure operators bring a new type of employment opportunity for local people and we are ensuring that those seeking jobs are given every support,” said Mr Jennings.

“The opening at White Rose of a new retail and leisure training facility called The Point is an example of that.”

Trinity Leeds will employ more than 3,000 people when it opens.

Land Securities recently signed up upmarket lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret.

Mr Jennings described the signing as “a real coup”.

“This is big news for us. To get an iconic international retailer to come to Trinity Leeds is fantastic. Victoria’s Secret will only open stores in very selective locations.”

The brand currently has only two stores in the UK in New Bond Street in central London and Westfield Stratford City in East London.

“It’s a very powerful brand. It’s new, exciting, high quality and chic, “ said Mr Jennings.

“It’s not just another lingerie retailer.”

Land Securities’ tie-up with Google comes as the number of its retail units in administration, including Jessops, HMV and Blockbuster, rose from 1.8 per cent at the end of September to 2.2 per cent.

More than your average trip to the stores

Land Securities has spent £15m changing the Trinity Leeds scheme to create a new food service area and restructure an existing Boots store.

The company is keen to extend and improve the food and beverage offer in line with greater demand from shoppers for places to eat and drink.

“We are allocating more than 20 per cent of space for catering,” said Land Securities’ retail portfolio director Gerald Jennings.

“There’s a greater requirement from consumers for more than just shopping,” he added.

“The cinema and the restaurants at Trinity Leeds will change the evening economy in Leeds. It will really create evening activity.”

A national chain, as yet unnamed, will run the cinema.

Land Securities’ chief executive Rob Noel said: “For both retailers and consumers, the leisure and food and beverage offer in retail centres, together with convenience, continue to be important drivers of behaviour. Retailers retain a preference for larger shopping centres and out-of-town locations.”

Mr Noel believes that consumers are shopping less often, but taking longer and spending more per trip.