Two former BHS stores in Brighton and Cambridge have been taken by leading retailers, as the large retail spaces continue to struggle to find tenants.
Entertainment retailer HMV has signed a five-year lease on the 6700sq ft space in Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping centre, according to Property Week.
Elsewhere in the centre, owned by Standard Life Investments UK Shopping Centre Trust, Pandora has signed a 10-year lease on a 1438sq ft retail unit.
“These lettings reinforce Churchill Square’s enduring appeal to leading retailers,” the trust’s fund manager Ed Jenkins said.
“They add to the breadth of the centre’s offer, which includes a diverse mix of entertainment, fashion, and food and beverage.”
Meanwhile H&M has signed a deal to expand its current space by 60 per cent into the former BHS unit at Camrbidge’s Grafton shopping centre.
The 28,570sq ft retail space will be shared by PureGym, which will take 17,500sq ft on the second floor.
“We recognise the importance of investing into improving the centre and the need to respond to the ever-changing retail environment,” senior asset manager at Grafton’s owner L&G Tom Williams said.
“Consequently, we’ve increased our investment into the refurbishment to help deliver a new and unique leisure offering for Cambridge to be delivered through the reconfiguration of the former BHS.
“This is a key aspect of the refurbishment programme and the new announcements demonstrate both existing retailer and new operator confidence in the scheme.”
The news comes after it was revealed in August that 60 per cent of BHS stores had still not been filled, as retailers opt for smaller less costly spaces in more urban areas.
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