Dive into the largest shopping centre in Europe: Tom Daley helps open Westfield's £600m, 740,000 sq ft expansion in west London including a state-of-the-art John Lewis
- Westfield, White City, is now the largest shopping centre in Europe following extension
- Key feature is a new state-of-the-art John Lewis department store comprising four levels
- New extension is launching six months ahead of schedule and will open in phases
Westfield London is now the largest shopping centre in Europe with the opening of a £600 million extension.
The 740,000 sq ft expansion of White City, west London, will increase the overall size of the centre to 2.6 million sq ft to overtake Aviapark in Moscow and the Westgate shopping city in Zagreb, Croatia.
The new extension is launching six months ahead of schedule and will open in phases.
Westfield's investment comes despite a tough retail market, which has seen a number of high street brands face higher business rates and online competion.
Key features at the new expanded site include a new state-of-the-art John Lewis department store over four levels and 230,000 sq ft, while retailers including H&M, The White Company, Ugg and Cath Kidston will be launching bigger outlets within the new space.
- COO Peter Miller said the expansion was 'testimony to the strength of Westfield London'
- Key features include a new state-of-the-art John Lewis department store over four levels and 230,000 sq ft, while retailers including H&M, The White Company, Ugg and Cath Kidston will be launching bigger outlets within the new space
- The John Lewis store will stock more than 150,000 products and more than 1,000 brands.
Paula Nickolds, Managing Director of John Lewis has said that 'the modern day department store is a place to shop, do and learn under one roof'.
John Lewis said the new store, which is 230,000 sq ft, will offer customers new things to do and learn every time they visit.
These include daily fashion style talks, cookery masterclasses in a demonstration kitchen, and beauty treatments in either the &Beauty Express Nail & Brow Bar, or Hair and Beauty Salon.
The shop will stock over 150,000 products and more than 1,000 brands.
Westfield Square, a new public events space surrounded with shops, dining and leisure outlets, will open in the summer.
The expansion will create 8,000 new jobs taking the total number at the centre to 20,000.
Peter Miller, chief operating officer of Westfield Europe, said: '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.'
Olympic diver Tom Daley was in attendance alongside professional dancer Adrienne Herbert to open a new Adidas store.
- Olympic diver Tom Daley was on hand with professional dancer Adrienne Herbert to open a brand new Adidas store at the centre
- The expansion will create 8,000 new jobs taking the total number at the centre to 20,000
- The development has seen the creations of 'new social housing, new jobs and new infrastructure' for local residents
Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: 'We’re particularly pleased to have Westfield London working with us to build economic growth that works for all our residents.
'In this latest phase, we have negotiated new social housing, new jobs and new infrastructure that will benefit our residents.
'Our borough is fortunate to have all that Westfield brings and this latest development is a really exciting addition to our borough.'
The expansion means there is space available for a total of 90 new stores and restaurants at the centre, which will bring the total number to 450.
It comes as part of an £8billion regeneration programme in White City, which will see the redevelopment of the old BBC TV Centre into flats, restaurants and a Soho House private members' club and hotel.
