Multi-million pound development reaches key milestone

A key milestone was reached at a multi-million pound shopping centre development in Watford with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. The £180million intu Watford redevelopment is scheduled to open in autumn 2018 and the ‘topping out’ marks the highest point of the new extension being reached, with a ceremonial piece of concrete laid on the roof. Representatives from intu and the contractor Laing O’Rourke attended the ceremony, where both organisations reflected on the progress that’s been made so far. Laing O’Rourke’s head of UK building, Liam Cummins, said: “Having only started on-site in the middle of last year it’s great to see the progress made by the team in reaching this key milestone. We continue to develop our partnership with intu, and are committed to innovative engineering in the retail sector. We look forward to the final phase of this transformational project in the coming months.” The redevelopment will bring new retail, restaurants and leisure options to Watford, including a new nine-screen IMAX Cineworld cinema. The extension will be anchored by a 113,000sq ft Debenhams store, with other top brands also signed up to join such as Superdry which will open a 6,630sq ft store inside the 400,000sq ft extension. Around two thirds of the extension is now let, with Hollywood Bowl and a range of family friendly restaurants such as Cabana, Las Iguanas and Byron also signed up to be a part of Watford’s enhanced retail and leisure offer. Refurbishment works are also under way to transform the look and feel of the existing shopping centre too. Modernisation of the centre will include enhancements to the high-level architecture, flooring and ceilings, alongside an upgrade of the lighting scheme and toilet and changing facilities. For full details on the development, visit www.intu.co.uk/Watford