The developers of a £150m extension to Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre are trying
to lure Selfridges to the scheme.
Joint venture partners Stannifer and Miller Developments are talking to the retailer about anchoring the redevelopment, which includes 200,000 sq ft of shops, a department store, 140,000 sq ft casino, hotel, 300 flats and a 1,500-space car park.
The 4.5-acre NCP car park site they own borders King Street, Osborne Street and Stockwell Street.
Selfridges has said it will not make an announcement about its intentions in Glasgow until early in the new year. Since it was taken over by Canadian Galen Weston last year, it has pulled plans to open in Bristol and possibly Leeds.
It presently trades from four stores: in London, Birmingham and two in Manchester.
But earlier this year the retailer appointed Wilson Bowden as development
partner on a site in Glasgow, at Trongate in the Merchant City area, which it had bought for a possible store before the Weston takeover.
If Selfridges was to agree to open in St Enoch, it is believed that the Stannifer/Miller jv would take control of the Trongate site too.
None of the parties was available for comment.
An insider said: “They’ve had various discussions with Selfridges but can’t afford to tread water while Selfridges makes up its mind.”
Miller and Stannifer are also talking to casino operators, including a tie-up between Australian businessman Kerry Packer and Aspinalls, Ameristar, Isle of Capri and Caesars, to run a casino of up to 140,000 sq ft and hotel at the St Enoch’s site.
They have received two proposals from casino operators and a decision is due by the end of the year.
References: EGi News 11/10/04
