Railways infrastructure firm Network Rail has today appointed consultants to commence the leasing of a new-look Pallasades shopping centre at Birmingham‘s New Street Station.
New Street is undergoing a multimillion pound redevelopment, which will see a new John Lewis store open at the site in autumn 2014, and the currently run-down mall attached to the site is set to undergo a major upgrade and remodelling initiative.
Keith Stone of real estate firm Keystone Retail Property has been hired by Network Rail to find occupiers for the reconfigured centre, with 150,000 sq ft of retail space up for grabs.
Stone said: “This is an exciting time for the Pallasades shopping centre. Securing John Lewis to anchor the scheme was a big win for Birmingham, and will have a major impact on shopping patterns in the city.
“We will now look to create a high-quality retail destination for retailers, restaurants and cafes complimentary to the John Lewis brand.”
Construction work began on the redevelopment of New Street station, which along with Network Rail is backed by Birmingham City Council, the Department for Transport, Centro and Advantage West Midlands, last year, and many units at the Pallasades have been left empty as a consequence.
Retail Gazette reported 11 months ago how Birmingham had become one of the retail capitals of the UK, with the impressive Bullring centre at its heart, but that the station area and attached mall felt tired, outdated and deserving of a transformation.
Reflecting on the plans for New Street and Pallasades, Stone added: “The redevelopment of New Street station and the Pallasades will create new jobs, stimulate regeneration and help confirm Birmingham city centre as one of the leading retail destinations in the country.”
