A WEST Belfast shopping centre is to benefit from a sizeable £3 million investment, which will see the opening of two new superstores and the creation of 100 jobs.
The Park Centre has received a timely boost after it was confirmed leading budget retailers, Home Bargains and B&M will set up in new premises at the centre this summer.
The pair will each invest £1m and occupy a combined 40,000 sq ft within the former Dunnes Stores retail unit, creating an expected 100 new jobs.
As part of the major investment, B&M will relocate from its current location within the Park Centre mall, more than tripling the size of its premises.
In addition, Park Centre owner, Latt Ltd, will contribute £1m as it aims to further enhance the offering at the popular retail and leisure development.
Stephen McGeown, director of Latt Ltd believes the addition of the two new superstores will significantly increase footfall in the centre.
“We are delighted that both Home Bargains and B&M Stores will open new superstores in The Park Centre later this year," he said.
“The addition of a Home Bargains superstore and a new B&M Stores superstore is excellent news for The Park Centre and for the local area, with both significant investment and an important jobs boost."
“The Park Centre now looks to the future with confidence," Mr McGeown added.
Colin Mathewson, senior director, CBRE, who worked with The Park Centre to secure both investments, said the new additions could be the first of many.
“The addition of a Home Bargains superstore and a B&M Stores superstore to The Park Centre is fantastic news," he said
“We are delighted to have worked with Latt Ltd to bring these significant investments, totalling over 40,000 sq ft, to fruition.
“Discussions are ongoing with other brand names and we are looking forward to adding further new retailers in the period ahead.”
The major investment at the Park Centre comes just weeks after private home care provider, Connected Health officially opened the company's Connected Academy training facility at the complex.
The unit is the north’s first dedicated and accredited training facility for care workers and as part of the move Connected Health has commenced recruitment for 200 new roles across its operations in Belfast and north Down.
Connected Health, which delivers 1.5 million care visits across Northern Ireland each year, currently employs more than 450 people in the north and another 110 in the Republic.
