Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre has received resolution to grant planning consent for a £300 million extension that would transform the centre‘s leisure offering.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the 330,000sq ft development plan, which was submitted by the shopping centre’s co-owner British Land late last year.
The extension will integrate with the front of the existing centre and will feature dining and entertaining options, a new cinema, café court, gym, open-air terrace and space for leisure, event and community use.
The Leisure Hall extension will follow a current £60 million refurbishment that is expected to be completed by autumn, ahead of the peak Christmas trading period.
Forty retailers have also invested more than £34 million in redesigning and refitting their existing stores to fit Meadowhall’s facelift, with a further 30 currently underway.
In the 12 months to June, all 61 occupiers with leases due to expire renewed their tenancies while eight of these retailers increased the size of their space ahead of the centre’s refurbishment completion.
In addition, 30 new brands have signed at Meadowhall over the last 18 months, with Flannels, Tag Heuer, Nespresso, Neal‘s Yard and Godiva all adding to its premium offer.
“We are delighted with the planning committee‘s decision and will now work with our partners and other stakeholders over the coming months on the detail of the Leisure Hall to ensure Meadowhall delivers the maximum benefits for customers, retailers and the wider Sheffield City Region,” British Land head of retail Charles Maudsley said.
“The refurbishment completing later this year, our continued leasing success, significant store investment by retailers and the Leisure Hall proposals are all significant steps in the centre‘s continued evolution.”
Meadowhall attracts 24 million visitors per year.
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