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* John Lewis to become anchor department store for proposed ‘Dublin Central’ development.
* Investment worth EUR50m to create over 800 new jobs for Dublin.
CHARTERED LAND, one of Ireland's leading commercial property companies, has
today (6 November 2008) announced that it has agreed heads of terms with
John Lewis for the retailer to open its first John Lewis department store
outside of the UK in Dublin. The department store will be the first JohnLewis shop in the Republic of Ireland and will be located in Chartered Land's proposed O’Connell Street scheme, 'Dublin Central'.
The move represents an investment of EUR50m for the John Lewis Partnership in Ireland and is expected to create over 800 new jobs for Dublin when the scheme opens in 2013. John Lewis will trade from a 250,000 sq ft space spread over five levels. The Dublin department store will form part of the company's existing expansion plans to double the size of its business in the next ten years.
Speaking at today's announcement, Dominic Deeny, Chief Executive, Chartered Land said: "We are delighted to welcome John Lewis as the anchor tenant for our proposed Dublin Central scheme. The John Lewis Partnership is renowned for its pioneering business model and will make a significant contribution to the Henry Street retail mix and further strengthen the city-centre retail offer."
Gareth Thomas, Director of Retail Design and Development, John Lewis said: "Today's announcement is significant for John Lewis in that it marks the first move by John Lewis to a location outside the United Kingdom. We are delighted to have the opportunity to open John Lewis in Dublin – a city full of vitality and vibrancy. We believe that we will add a fresh and new dimension to the Irish retail market. We have a strong track record of commitment to sympathetic city centre regeneration and are very excited about trading on Dublin's O'Connell Street. We look forward to developing our presence in the Irish market and in due course, delivering our unique and exciting product range and service offering to Irish shoppers."
The John Lewis Partnership was founded in 1929 and has established a leading reputation as a trusted retailer and a progressive employer. It currently operates 27 John Lewis department stores across the UK, John Lewis Direct, a website and catalogue business; 193 Waitrose supermarkets and Greenbee – a new direct services company. The business has an annual turnover of over €7.6bn (£6bn) and employs over 69,000 staff - all of whom are Partners in the business. Profits are shared fairly among Partners, and everyone receives an equal percentage of their salary as an annual bonus in addition to there being a non-contributory final salary pension scheme and subsidised leisure activities. The business model will apply equally to Partners who join John Lewis in Ireland.
John Lewis department stores are widely recognised in the UK as a one-stop shop for everything from home furnishings, furniture, fashion, audio visual equipment and home technology to haberdashery. A typical store carries over 350,000 separate product lines with products at every price point all backed up by exemplary customer service.
Another John Lewis department store on the island of Ireland is planned for the Sprucefield Centre near Lisburn.
ENDS
6 November 2008
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
For Chartered Land Ltd.:
Paul Gray/Roddy Guiney, Wilson Hartnell Public Relations
Tel.: +353 (0)1 669 0030
Email: paul.gray@ogilvy.com / roddy.guiney@ogilvy.com
For John Lewis:
Rachel Faulkner
John Lewis Press Office
Tel.: +44 (0) 207 592 6020
Mob.: +44(0) 7764 674247
Email.: rachel_faulkner@johnlewis.co.uk
Or
Kieran Donnelly/Dana McCusker, Morrow Communications:
Tel.: + 353 (0)1 6689887
Mob : +44 (0) 7769702275/+44 (0) 7773336249
Email.: k.donnelly@morrowcommunications.com /
d.mccusker@morrowcommunications.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT CHARTERED LAND
Chartered Land Limited is one of Ireland's leading commercial property companies. It is committed to creating a portfolio of innovative, landmark commercial developments that redefine towns and cityscapes through ground-breaking social, cultural and retail environments.
Its current portfolio of properties includes:
DUBLIN CENTRAL, DUBLIN 1
Chartered Land has applied for planning permission to Dublin City Council for the development of "Dublin Central", a 5.5 acre, retail-led, mixed-use scheme that will create a new urban quarter at the heart of Dublin city. The plans for Dublin Central incorporate two new public streets and three new public squares; 69 modern apartments; over 100 new retail stores including a major flagship department store and 17 restaurants dispersed
throughout the scheme including a stunning restaurant situated at the summit of the 'Park in the Sky' attraction.
SWORDS PAVILIONS, CO. DUBLIN
The Swords Pavilions has the potential to become a new regional destination for north Dublin. Chartered Land recently submitted a planning application to Fingal County Council for an expansion of Swords Pavilions which comprises 600,000 sq ft of retail space with Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser having confirmed heads of terms to join as anchor tenants. Central to the expansion will be the inclusion of over forty new restaurants and street cafés which will create an exciting new social and cultural district
for the town of Swords.
DUNDRUM TOWN CENTRE
Since first opening its doors for business in 2005, Dundrum Town Centre has firmly established itself as one of Ireland's most popular, premier shopping destinations with an estimated 300,000 shoppers visiting the centre each week. An additional 250,000 sq ft of space has been added in 2008 which includes new names to shopping centre retailing in Ireland including Hamleys, LK Bennett, Gant, Snow + Rock, Bose, Gerry Weber, Cath
Kidson, Nandos, Ananda and The Counter, along with long established operators including Hughes & Hughes, Fran & Jane, Elvery Sports Magee and Mexx. More new international brands will be announced before Christmas.
ILAC CENTRE, DUBLIN 1
The €60 million refurbishment of Dublin’s ILAC Centre, a joint ownership with Irish Life Assurance plc, has seen one of Dublin's oldest shopping centres transformed and reconfigured to create larger floor plates. The centre is anchored by Dunnes Stores and Debenhams and also includes H&M and Zara. A number of exciting new lettings will be announced shortly.
SOUTH KING STREET, DUBLIN 2
The development comprises a five-storey-over-basement 8,055sm block of prestigious office suites and retail, with international fashion retailers Zara, H&M and Warehouse amongst its high-profile tenants which have now opened. Set to be one of the most impressive developments in Dublin, it will extend the Grafton Street prime retail core in the heart of the city and is due for completion this year.
GRAND CANAL SQUARE, DUBLIN 2
Set in the heart of Dublin’s Docklands, the development includes a new square designed by Martha Schwartz and a diamond-shaped West End-style theatre designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. The 2000-seat theatre, to be operated by LiveNation, will be complemented by 35,000 sq m of prime commercial office space. BCM Hanby Wallace has agreed to occupy over 150,000 sq ft of office space at Number 2, Grand Canal Square with another letting announcement due shortly.
ABOUT THE JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP
The John Lewis Partnership - The John Lewis Partnership operates 27 department stores across the UK, John Lewis Direct - a website and catalogue business, 193 Waitrose supermarkets and Greenbee, a new direct services company. The business has an annual turnover of over €7.6bn (£6bn).
John Lewis - John Lewis, 'Britain's favourite retailer 2007'* typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines. The website stocks more than 30,000 lines focused on the best of home and giftware and is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK. (www.johnlewis.com)
Waitrose - Waitrose, named 'Britain's favourite supermarket'* combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop. It offers fresh and frozen foods, wines and groceries as well as delicatessen, cheese, fresh fish, meat, patisserie and hot-food counters. Waitrose is dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced combined with high standards of customer service.
(www.waitrose.com)
*Verdict consumer satisfaction index, January 2008
For further information on John Lewis department stores visit:
www.johnlewis.com
Fof further information on the John Lewis Partnership visit:
www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk
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