McAlpine's Victoria Gate mall in Leeds opens

Hammerson’s latest shopping centre, Victoria Gate in Leeds, opens to the public today.

Designed by Acme and built by Sir Robert McAlpine, it is the only major retail scheme to open this year.

Conceived as a 21st-century interpretation of Victorian arcades, it delivers 35,400m2 of retail and leisure space at a cost of £165m. It is anchored by a new John Lewis store.

Hammerson chief executive David Atkins said: “Leeds is a fantastic city, so we’re extremely pleased to have regenerated an under-utilised urban space into a unique destination, which we are confident will form an iconic piece of Leeds’ retail heritage.”