Primark boosts Merseyway’s footfall

THE arrival of Primark to Stockport’s Merseyway shopping centre helped to increase visitor numbers to over 10m in 2011.

The increase of 600,000 shoppers meant the centre recorded over 10.1m visits during the year. Numbers were also up by 13% in December, and in the week before Christmas they climbed 20% to almost 300,000.

Merseyway is currently being managed by GVA, which was appointed as Law of Property Act Receivers by its bank, Bradford & Bingley, in February 2009.

Other retailers to open at Merseyway during the year included River Island, Deichmann Shoes and Costa Coffee.

GVA senior director Mark Rawstron said: “At a very tough time for retail generally, Merseyway stands out as a centre undergoing an impressive revival.

“Current footfall at Merseyway is outpacing the national average and regional averages for shopping centres, showing that both the centre and Stockport itself is a compelling retail and visitor destination.

“New investment in the centre has clearly resulted in people returning to Merseyway in high numbers, and we look forward to continuing to work with Stockport Council to build on the success we have achieved in 2011.”