POSITIVE NEWS FOR WINCHESTER CITY CENTRE

When it was first announced that Primark were moving into Winchester the news was greeted in differing ways, from celebration to dismay.

But, whatever your personal preferences, it must be remembered that the City serves a wide spectrum of the population and the biggest mistake some retailers have made in the past is to assume that Winchester is another Covent Garden, when nothing could be further from the truth. So says leading retail agent Jeremy Braybrooke of retail specialists Osmond Brookes.

There is the need for a choice, from the high end exclusive brands to run of the mill clothing for the family, and those in the know realise that Primark taking over the former BhS unit in the Brooks Shopping Centre is great news of the most positive kind, both for the Centre and for retailing generally in the City Centre.

The retailer is making a major investment in the premises and as can be seen from their other stores they create an immense amount of footfall. Count the bags once they open if you don’t believe me.

Overall it is clear that Winchester has survived the recession better than most Cities. During 2009, Jack Wills, Cath Kidson, Joules and Urban Nature joined the High Street, all paying big rents to be in town. There is virtually no availability here with even the former ‘Works’ unit being under offer and Poundland have opened in the 8000 sq ft former Post Office Sorting Office in Middlebrook Street, formerly occupied for some years by Circle 7.

The adjacent former Post Office unit of 3600 sq ft is now available to let at £75000 pa on a 10 year lease.

In the remainder of the Brooks, Eton Brown Menswear have taken the  1300 sq ft Unit 39 and two further units are under offer. Enquiries have increased over the past couple of months and the general mood in the market place is far more positive than it was.

The redevelopment of Silver Hill, probably the largest change the City has seen in its history, has of course, been set back by the demise of the developer Thornfield. It may start, I’d go as far as to say it will start, one day, but its completion is years away.

That said, a limited number of units are still available in various locations and Osmond Brookes has one of the largest selections of any retail agent in the area. For further information please go to www.osmondbrookes.co.uk or call Jeremy Braybrooke on 023 8000 2020, email: jeremy.braybrooke@osmondbrookes.co.uk

April 2010