Shopping centre’s footfall at four-year high after 10 lettings
A West Yorkshire shopping centre reports it is back to pre-pandemic footfall levels after welcoming nearly 10 million visits in 2023.
Trinity Walk, in Wakefield city centre, secured 10 new lettings last year including Sports Direct, Warren James, Bob & Berts, NHS Breast Screening, Shoezone, Sanctuary Health & Beauty, Boyle Sports, Marie Curie, Community Foundation for Wakefield’s GIVEBOX and multi-agency City Hub.
Footfall at Trinity Walk reached an annual four year high – with the last six months of 2023 beating 2019’s figures.
The new openings combined with some major events have been key drivers in Trinity Walk’s growth to around 9.88 million annual visits in 2023.
Talks are under way to lease three more units from the few remaining alongside, with plans in the pipeline to fill the former Debenhams unit.
Trinity Walk is managed by Savills on behalf of Orion, who appointed a new centre manager, Lynette Howgate, in January 2023.
Howgate said: “Trinity Walk has always bucked the trend. It’s never been a harder time to do that with inflation and a cost of living crisis, but thanks to the site team and Savills we’ve secured and helped launch a diverse range of brilliant new additions.
“That helps attract a wider audience because the mix here is so vast – from clothes, tech and music to food, a gym and bank. That means more people have more reason to visit more often – and it’s working.
“But we cannot stand still and work is well under way on finding the right tenants to fill the very few remaining units, while making sure we look after the ones we have here who do an amazing job every day.”
Fiona Wight, Savills director for Trinity Walk, added: “This centre is living proof there is not just life left in shopping centres, but real opportunity to grow and succeed. The team have worked hard to bring tenants in and when they open, support them to do well.
“Combined with a strong brand and great events, Trinity Walk’s resurgence is brilliant to see and great for the local economy. It’s vital we continue to stay focused, not rest on our laurels and take it on to the next level.”
The open air centre covers around 560,000 sq ft and opened in 2011.
