Wilkinson set to open in Belle Vale Shopping Centre

St Modwen Developments (Belle Vale) Ltd and clients of LaSalle Investment Management have reached agreement with leading high street retailer Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd to take over the former Tesco store in Belle Vale Shopping Centre, Liverpool, creating about 70 job opportunities and adding a further high profile national retailer to the centre.

The lease on the Tesco store was surrendered back to St Modwen Developments (Belle Vale) Ltd and clients of La Salle Investment Management who are

regenerating the centre, and Wilkinson has taken the basement and mall levels of the store on a 20-year lease with five-yearly reviews, at an annual rent of £150,000. Wilkinson plan to be trading in July.

A spokesman for Wilkinson said: “As well as bringing more choice and value to Belle Vale, we will be creating a full mix of retail jobs. “

Belle Vale will be the home and garden chain’s first store in Liverpool although it already trades in Birkenhead, Wallasey, St Helens and Widnes.

Paul Batho of St Modwen, said: “Wilkinson is a very strong retailer and will prove to be a great new attraction to shoppers at Belle Vale. We welcome their investment in the centre.”

Wilkinson is one of the fastest-growing high street retailers and currently has 214 stores across England and Wales. Belle Vale will be among 20 new stores opening during this year in England and Wales as the Nottinghamshire-based company forges ahead with a planned expansion programme which will see 300 stores nationwide by 2006.

For further information contact Paul Batho of St Modwen on 01925-825950.

Issued by Paul Raymer of Howle Chapman Raymer (0121-779-2987).