Jessica Elgot

This was my front page splash on Tuesday 3rd February

LESS THAN half of St David’s 2 shops have managed to be let, with just eight months to go before the launch of the £675 million shopping centre, it was revealed today. 

Despite last week’s celebrations, when builders reached the highest point of the new centre, developers are concerned the centre may not fill the 967,500 sq ft of retail space available, when the centre opens in September. 

John Lewis, the centre’s largest tenant is also being forced scale back its development plans around the UK although the flagship Cardiff store will go ahead as planned. 

In November 2008, only eight out of a total of 304 apartments had been sold. The St David’s Partnership announced all seven of the high rise tower blocks would be externally finished but only one of the blocks would be furnished, leaving the remaining six blocks as empty shells . The company has made no comment on how  further sales had been progressing. 

Melissa Hill, spokesperson for Land Securities, the company who jointly owns St David’s 2 said: ” We have 47 per cent of the scheme committed by area with a further 13 per cent of the scheme in detailed negotiations.” The company made no comment on whether any interest had been recieved on the remaining 40 per cent of the space available. She said: “We recognise this is a challenging environment for developers but we also know we have an ecellent product bringing new retail to the city. We have sold more than a quarter of the units, probably about 50 per cent I believe.”

Rachel Faulkner, PR Manager for John Lewis’ new developments, said the company were on target despite economic setbacks. She said:

“We’re set to open in the autumn and the fit out of the store has already started. We’ve committed to opening now and obviously it’s been an ongoing project for some years. There are obviously some issues with St David’s 2, but we feel we have a strong enough presence and customer base in Cardiff. I can’t really comment on how St David’s 2 are finding it hard to sell units. We’ll be going ahead as planned.”

The John Lewis store will take up 240,00 sq ft of retail space in St David’s 2. Other brands such as Hugo Boss, Reiss, Radley, Kurt Geiger, TM Lewin, All Saints, Crabtree & Evelyn, Links of London and a new restaurant from Jamie Oliver have also committed to the centre. 

Steve Edwards, spokesman for Cardiff Council’s Major Developments said: “The scheme doesn’t open until the Autumn, so from our perspective we’ve still got time before there’s cause for any major concern.” 

Cardiff’s retail sector has been hit hard by the recession. Last week, Priceless and Barratt shoe stores, owed by company Stylo,  both of which have stores in the current St David’s Centre on Queen Street into Cardiff, went into administration. Several shops have been left standing empty in popular shopping streets, including Qube and Profile Pink on Queen Street and Whittards and The Pier in Queens Arcade. More than 15 shops have closed in the Morgan Arcade including La Baguette, Woodies Emporium, Bros, Emma Somerset, Eden Park and J S Caroline jewellers.