The Merrion Centre welcomes our latest tenant Eurochange, providing currency exchange along with many other services.

We asked Eurochange to describe their business...

At eurochange we are widely recognised as “the foreign exchange experts.”  We offer a friendly and helpful service, with exceptional rates and a wide range of currencies available on demand. eurochange provide a complete foreign exchange service, Money Transfer, International Payments and International Phone Cards.
For the best value and advice, make your foreign exchange expert, eurochange, your first port of call.
 
Eurochange
Kiosk 3,
The Merrion Centre
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS2 8NG
TEL: 0113 245 2102
www.eurochange.co.uk

Striking Leeds landmark building is unveiled

Town Centre Securities’ multi million pound transformation of their unique, sustainable Town Centre House redevelopment is now complete, marking the launch of the first phase of the refurbishment of the Merrion Centre in Leeds.

The 40 year old landmark building has undergone an intensive 18 month refurbishment and extension programme to create a striking Yorkshire sandstone façade, an additional 6th floor with panoramic city views, retail extension and 33,523sq ft of prime, sustainable office accommodation with ample parking within the heart of the city. The development was one of the city’s first refurbished buildings to be awarded the coveted BREEAM Excellent rating and forms part of Town Centre Securities’ ten year masterplan for the Merrion Centre scheme above which it resides.

Town Centre Securities will reoccupy one and a half floors within the development and construction management consultants, Gleeds, has taken the entire 6,500sq ft second floor for their 45-strong Leeds team. 20,000sq ft of flexible office space ranging from 1,800sq ft upwards, and including the new 6th floor, is now available and the developer believes that the scheme’s unique offering will prove to be an attractive proposition for environmentally and energy conscious occupiers.

The refurbishment incorporates on-site monitoring of waste management, energy and water consumption; full-height glazing and floor plates to maximise natural light; a heating and cooling system, including heat recovery; low-energy design and technologies such as variable speed pumps and automatic lighting control. There is also a partly bio-diverse roof to enhance the site’s ecology and cut heat loss as well as the use of local, natural products. Co2 emissions are forecast to be reduced by more than 70 per cent and create lower running costs.

Property Director for Town Centre Securities, Richard Lewis, says; “We believe that we have created a unique product within Leeds City Centre. Town Centre House’s combination of sustainability, quality and value is unrivalled, as is the flexibility we can offer to occupiers.

“As a developer, we are continually seeking ways to ensure environmental practice and appreciate that sustainability and energy consumption is becoming increasingly important. The refurbishment of Town Centre House has significantly reduced the building’s operating costs and will subsequently contribute to reductions in its carbon footprint. This, combined with the high quality of refurbishment and extremely flexible packages we can create for tenants, makes it an ideal location for a range of environmentally-conscious companies.” 

HOME BARGAINS TAKES ANCHOR STORE AT

MERRION CENTRE, LEEDS

Town Centre Securities Plc, advised by Savills, has let one of the anchor stores at The Merrion Centre in Leeds to Home Bargains, which sells top quality, branded goods at low prices.

The established value retailer has taken a new 15-year lease on the previous Woolworths store at the scheme and will open prior to Easter 2009. Home Bargains will pay an annual rent of £231,250 on the unit, which is arranged over two floors and totals 15,158 sq ft (1,408 sq m).

Helen Beckett, from Town Centre Securities, comments: “There was good demand for this unit.  Home Bargains is a strong and popular brand that will both enhance our existing tenant mix at The Merrion Centre. In addition, it will add a point of difference for customers and, as such, will certainly help to drive The Merrion Centre footfall upwards.”

In addition to Home Bargains a number of other new retailers have also recently taken space at The Merrion Centre in the last two months including Hair@Pro-Style, Nail Queen, Epic Myth UK and WOW Hair and Beauty.

Steve Henderson, associate director at Savills, comments: “The Merrion Centre has appealed to a wide range of retailers from local and regional to large national chains and it is this combination that has contributed to making the scheme a key retail destination in the city.”

Home Bargains was represented by bennett.

Town Centre Securities’ Merrion Centre development in Leeds has secured two high profile retail tenants in just two months.

In line with the retailer’s expansion plans, Ethel Austin has taken 3,611sq ft on a five-year lease with an annual rent of £65,000. This deal comes just weeks after Home Bargains signed a 15 year lease deal to take the 15,158sq ft former Woolworths store on an annual rent of £231,250. Ethel Austin is due to open in early March, with Home Bargains launching the following month. Savills represented Town Centre Securities on both deals, with Hartnell Taylor Cook and Bennett acting for Ethel Austin and Home Bargains respectively.

The Merrion Centre is one of Leeds’ most successful retail schemes and, with over 200,000 visitors per week totalling over 11 million per year, has the heaviest footfall of any shopping centre in the city core. A comprehensive refurbishment programme is well underway at the centre in line with the developer’s proactive asset management strategy to upgrade and improve the retail offer. In the last 3 years, over half of the 90 shop units have had new fit-outs.

Of the total 400,000sq ft of retail and leisure space at the Merrion Centre, just 6,500sq ft now remains available to let over 5 units, indicating the continued success of the transformational island site development which is home to numerous reputable brands such as Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Boots, O2 and Costa Coffee.

Helen Beckett from Town Centre Securities says; “The Merrion Centre is continually evolving and these latest lettings will undoubtedly complement the existing tenant mix and subsequently further increase footfall at the centre. Our commitment to delivering the long-term refurbishment programme at the Merrion Centre, along with the scheme’s strategic positioning and unrivalled footfall, is evident in the centre’s continued success.”

Steve Henderson, associate director at Savills, continues;”The Merrion Centre has appealed to a wide range of retailers from local and regional to large national chains and it is this combination that has contributed to making the scheme a key retail destination in the city.”

Merrion Centre Diamond Ring Balloon Drop

This Valentine’s Day the Merrion Centre and 96.3 Radio Aire dropped nearly 1000 balloons filled with prizes on eagerly waiting shoppers including a star prize of a diamond ring.

This Saturday shoppers of the Merrion Centre were presented with a chance to win prizes such as cd’s mp3 players, cinema tickets and a diamond ring for that special someone.

Shoppers just had to wait for nearly 1000 balloons to drop that were held in a net suspended above them.

At 3pm the net was dropped and people started popping and searching for the winning tickets.

Andrew Stringer, Centre Manager at the Merrion Centre said the response to the event was staggering, with people of all ages assembling hours before the balloons were dropped at 3pm.

Nick Babb from 96.3 Radio Aire who was hosting the event said “I can’t believe how many people were waiting on the balloons to drop, you could see everyone wanted that diamond ring and would do anything to get it.

I thought this was a great event and kind of wish I could have joined in with the fun!”

Town Centre Securities PLC are pleased to announce the letting of 40 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds to Shared Earth Ltd.

Property:                    40 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds

Floor Areas:               Ground Floor (Sales)  1,474 sq ft (136.93 sq m)                   

                                    First Floor (Storage)    844 sq ft (78.41 sq m)

Landlords:                 TCS Holdings Ltd

Tenant:                       Shared Earth Ltd

Lease:                         10 year effectively  Full Repairing and Insuring lease subject to 5 yearly upward only rent reviews.

Rent:                           £47,500 per annum exclusive

Leeds, insert date of issue 2008 – Town Centre Securities PLC, the Leeds based property investment and development company, has appointed Jones Lang LaSalle as letting agent on Town Centre House on Woodhouse Lane in Leeds. 

Forming part of a multi-million pound investment programme, Town Centre House is currently being redeveloped to provide a visually striking office building, offering top quality office space with flexible floor plates. Significantly, it is also set to become the first refurbished office building in Leeds city centre achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, the highest environmental accreditation currently attainable.

Commenting on the appointment, Adam Hodgson from Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “Town Centre House is set to offer the highest environmental rating for refurbished space in Leeds city centre; which means future occupiers will have the comfort of knowing this building has been designed to deliver the highest green standards. 

“The environmental impact of the refurbishment has been taken very seriously by Town Centres Securities PLC, and where possible, energy efficient systems are being implemented and materials sourced from local and sustainable sources.  The redevelopment also incorporates a striking new external cladding system utilising a traditional material, Yorkshire sandstone, combined with full height glazing.”

Helen Beckett, asset manager at Town Centre Securities PLC, added: “Our refurbishment programme will significantly cut the building’s operating costs and will contribute to subsequent reductions in its carbon footprint  The carbon dioxide emissions associated with the heating the building will reduced by over 90%, which although partly offset by the introduction of a new cooling system, is incredibly significant.”

On completion in December 2008, the building, which forms part of the Merrion Centre, will have been extended by one further office floor to provide a total of 41,000 sq ft of refurbished grade A space. Town Centre Securities PLC will occupy two floors as their headquarter offices, which follows agreed pre-lets on three suites, leaving 25,735 sq ft available for occupation.

Town Centre Securities PLC are please to announce the letting of 34-38 Woodhouse Lane, Merrion Centre, Leeds to Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd

Property: 34-38 Woodhouse Lane, Merrion Centre, Leeds

Floor Areas: Ground Floor (Sales) 6053 sq ft (346 sq m)

Landlords: TCS Holdings Ltd

Tenant: Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd

Lease: 15 year effectively Full Repairing and Insuring lease subject to 5 yearly upward only rent reviews.

Rent: £135,000 per annum exclusive

Landlords Agents: Savills (0113 244 0100)

Harmer Ray Hoffbrand (0207 499 5399)

Tenants Agents: Central Retail (0113 244 8668)

TCS Holdings Ltd ‘Following lettings to Costa Coffee, Sainsburys Local in 2007 and Nevisport in early 2008, we are delighted to announce latest Woodhouse Lane Letting to Wilkinson. This letting is on the back of the facia and elevation redevelopment work and confirms our view that Woodhouse Lane is a rapidly improving retail location in Leeds. This letting leaves one last remaining opportunity within the parade’

HelenBeckett

Savills “We are please to have agreed terms with Wilkinson for their new trial concept for Leeds of 6,000 sqft, due to open in May 2008. This leaves one remaining unit within this first phase of the redevelopment proposals, where we already have several expressions of interest from national and regional retailers. It is very positive for Merrion that we are able to secure pre-lets before completing the works.”
Steve Henderson

LETTINGS HATTRICK AT THE MERRION CENTRE, LEEDS

Town Centre Securities, advised by Savills, has agreed three new lettings at the Merrion Centre in Leeds to BB’s Coffee and Muffins, Ben Walmsley, trading as The Snug and HPJ Retailing.

BB’s Coffee and Muffins has agreed a new 10-year lease on a new Mall Café, in the central square, and will pay an annual rent of £30,000 on the 1,100 sq ft (102 sq m) unit.  Unit 44 will be occupied by Ben Walmsley, trading as coffee shop The Snug, which will pay an annual rent of £15,000 for the 377 sq ft (35 sq m) unit. 

The Jeweller, HPJ Retailing, is upsizing within the centre to Unit 25 and has agreed to a new 10-year lease on the 1,056 sq ft (98 sq m) unit.  The retailer will pay an annual rent of £65,000.

Helen Beckett from Town Centre Securities comments: “These additions to the centre will certainly enhance the shopping experience, improving the selection of food and drink outlets for shoppers and increasing dwell time within the centre benefiting the retailers in occupation.”

Phil Abbott, managing director of BB’s Coffee & Muffins, comments: “We are pleased to have secured a position in the Merrion Centre and believe that BB’s will make a valuable contribution to the shopping and eating experience there.  With our value offer, high quality and emphasis on hand-made, freshly prepared foods, we already have a strong consumer base in Leeds and look forward to serving a lot of new customers.” 

Steve Henderson, associate director of Savills, says: “The new hattrick of lettings are indicative of the interest shown by retailers in the scheme, which now has a footfall of 11.5 million shoppers per year.  They follow the recent letting to Wilkinsons, which will open a new concept store on Woodhouse Lane on the outside of the centre in May.”