Shopping centre big name moves in

WORK on a major Yorkshire shopping centre has taken a leap forward after a department store building was handed over to Debenhams.

The fit-out of the interior of the department store will now begin after developers handed over the keys for the 96,000 sq ft store at Trinity Walk, in Wakefield.

The 500,000 sq ft centre, which is due to open in spring 2011, will comprise more than 40 shops, including Sainsbury's, Topshop, Next, New Look, H&M, Peacocks, River Island, Orange, Greggs and Carphone Warehouse. It is currently over 75 per cent let.

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Construction of Trinity Walk started in 2007 but was halted in early 2009 when Trinity Walk Wakefield went into administration following the withdrawal of funding by Anglo Irish Bank.Work resumed on the building 10 months ago after a consortium of developers – which includes Sovereign Land, AREA Property Partners and Shepherd Construction – rescued the scheme. The group is investing 120m to finish the job on top of the 100m already spent.

Chris Geaves, director at Sovereign Land, said: "We have come so far in the last 10 months. From securing the purchase to getting the construction team back on site to handing over the department store to Debenhams. It's a fantastic testament to how hard everyone has worked and the massive levels of enthusiasm and commitment among the team.

"What's really exciting is to see that same enthusiasm now being transferred to the retailers."