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A planning application aimed at reducing vacant shop units on the mezzanine floor and maximising more than £100m of investment in the Trafford Centre over the last five years has been submitted. Bosses of the iconic mall say it is currently undergoing ‘a period of evolution unparalleled in its history’ as many of the original leases on its retail units have expired. The Trafford Centre Ltd’s submission is for the flexible use of the mezzanine floorspace across the shopping complex. To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE In the planning statement, agent Profectus Town Planning says ‘significant progress’ has been made in filling large vacant units in the Trafford Centre recently. This has included the relocation of M&S to the former Debenhams store and the backfilling of the former M&S store with new flagship Inditex stores. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE “This in turn frees up floorspace within the centre for other relocations or new retailers,” the statement on Trafford council’s planning portal says. It goes on: “This reorganisation of the centre is hugely positive, resulting in a reduction in vacant floorspace, creation of new jobs, increasing business rates and significant investment in Trafford through each of the multi-million pound shop fitouts with more than £100m invested in the centre being invested by the landlord and tenants over the past five years.” However, due to the ‘complexities involved’ and the potential for changes in retailers’ needs, bosses aim to eliminate the need for multiple major planning applications by obtaining consent for the future flexible configuration of the mezzanine floorspace across the mall.
