Triangle Shopping Centre on the front foot

MANCHESTER’S Triangle shopping centre is planning to give enterprising students a platform for their business ideas.

The centre, which offers trendy and upmarket boutiques, has like other sites, been hit by the challenging retail market and has eight out of its 38 units vacant.

Bosses, who say footfall increased nearly 20% last year – but declined to give a figure – believes The Triangle  offers shoppers something unique from the rest of the high street.

Michelle Atack, marketing manager said:  “Like the rest of the UK we suffered from a number of store closures in 2008 as businesses went into administration and others reduced overheads, but we have a completely different offering to the general high street and this continues to attract people.

“Moving forward we have a very definite business plan to attract even more people as well as filling empty retail space. – there is interest from food and clothing retailers.

“In the meantime, we will be creative and rather than boarding up empty shops they will be turned into temporary art and fashion design galleries by university students.”