The Westfield shopping centre in West London is now Europe’s largest, after its 68,748 sqm addition was put to use six months ahead of schedule. The extension cost about 600 million pounds (some 700 million euro).
Surpassed Moscow and Zagreb
Westfield will open its new buildings step by step, but an additional 68,748 sqm of stores will result in a total of 241,548 sqm inside the shopping centre, meaning it has now surpassed Moscow’s Aviapark and Zagreb’s Westgate. The extension’s main attraction is a new John Lewis department store, spanning across 4 floors and 21,368 sqm. Other retailers like H&M, The White Company, Ugg and Cath Kidston will also open stores in the new buildings. It will also open Westfield Square in the summer, a new public event space with stores, hospitality features and leisure activities. The new section will employ 8,000 people, bringing the overall employment to 20,000.
“The further investment ahead of the centre’s 10th anniversary year is testimony to the strength of Westfield London, which experiences high retail demand for space from luxury and high street brands looking to house their flagship stores, along with first to market dining and leisure concepts”, Westfield Europe’s COO, Peter Miller, told The Independent.
