Since 2008, when it became painfully clear just how severe the crash was and bank lending was called to a drastic halt, plans for new retail developments have been firmly on hold. But after five years of gloom, there are finally signs of recovery.

A wave of retail property plans has been given the go-ahead, and developers are preparing to break ground on some major projects once again.

CBRE’s Shopping Centres in the Pipeline report, published in June this year, identified 3.63 million sq ft of new retail space being developed, and 48.67 million sq ft either under construction, with planning consent, or proposed.

While CBRE predicts that these figures will decline into a more moderate 38 million sq ft by 2015/16, it is still a slap in the face for the perception that nothing is being built.

John Percy, head of retail development at property firm DTZ, says things have moved on rapidly in the past 12 months alone. “There’s a lot more activity than there was even a year ago. Everyone is digging out their plans from two or three years ago. Local authorities are taking a very different view to risk - they see that there is a financial imperative to get these projects done,” he says.

This role for local authorities as drivers and not merely supervisors of retail development is new. While it’s still early days, Colliers International head of national investment André James says a new model for funding projects - evidenced by the number of joint ventures that are active in the pipeline - is one trend to emerge from the downturn.

“It’s not just a single developer approach any more, it’s more about the local authority in tandem with a developer,” James says. “Councils need to be a bit bolder if they want to see their town developed. They are the ones who need to be the catalyst.”

Another key distinction between the pre and post-crash eras is the way shopping habits, and by extension warehousing requirements, have changed.

Shoppers have become really savvy at finding bargains online and choosing how they interact with brands and stores and, according to BCSC president and Lunson Mitchenall chairman Marcus Kilby, the next generation of shopping centres will have to reflect that.

“The shopping centres and stores of tomorrow are going to have to respond to that in the way they look at logistics.

Warehousing and logistics will have to be smarter and more interactive with customers,” Kilby says.

“Automated systems allow more frequent replenishment, and this presents an opportunity for retailers to have less storage space, which is costly in a town centre.”

So what is happening in the UK’s town and city centres, and how will this next phase of regeneration shape the long-term retail landscape?

Retail Week’s top town centre redevelopments

Croydon, London

Developers Croydon Partnership (Hammerson and Westfield) and Barratt London

What’s happening? Hammerson and Westfield plan a £1bn overhaul of the centre of Croydon in a bid to make the town the “leading retail destination in south London”. Permission is expected to be granted early next year with work due to begin in 2015. Croydon’s two existing centres, Whitgift and Centrale, will be redeveloped and reborn as a combined 1.5 million sq ft scheme. A new department store and a host of retail units are due by the time the project is complete. Croydon will also benefit from 900 new flats being built by Barratt London as part of New South Quarter.

Which retailers will it bring? There is speculation that John Lewis will take the department store unit but nothing is confirmed.

Completion date If planning permission is granted next year the overall works are due to be completed by the end of 2018. The New South Quarter project is due for completion by March 2016, with phased openings in the run-up.

Birmingham

Developer The Grand Central Partnership (Network Rail and Birmingham City Council)

What’s happening? One of the most ambitious projects in the UK is being carried out without a traditional developer in sight. Instead, Birmingham City Council and Network Rail have teamed up to deliver a transformation of the outdated Pallasades Shopping Centre, which sits on top of New Street Station. The result, Grand Central, will be more than half a million sq ft and include 50 retail units to serve the city and the 40 million passengers that pass through New Street every year. It is part of a wider investment programme into the station and surrounding areas.

Which retailers will it bring? John Lewis has agreed to anchor the scheme with a 250,000 sq ft store - its biggest outside London.

Completion date Some of the work on the station has already been completed but the overall project will be finished by autumn 2014.

Leeds

Developer Hammerson

What’s happening? Following its purchase of the Victoria Quarter in Leeds, anchored by Harvey Nichols, Hammerson is overhauling the adjacent Eastgate Quarter. The redeveloped scheme, renamed as Victoria Gate, will include 30 new retail units in the centre of Leeds. Work on the first phase of the project, which will total 398,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, is expected to get under way in spring 2014.

Which retailers will it bring? John Lewis will take the key department store unit, and Hammerson promises a range of new premium fashion brands for the city.

Completion date The overall project will be delivered in phases, with the first due for completion by the end of 2016.

Wandsworth, London

Developer Metro Shopping Fund (Land Securities and Delancey)

What’s happening? Wandsworth’s Southside centre is undergoing a £50m redevelopment, which will add 146,000 sq ft of new retail space and 20,000 sq ft of leisure space. The extension will make space for a department store and a raft of new medium-sized units, with new external retail frontage being added to the existing centre.

Which retailers will it bring? Debenhams will take the 81,880 sq ft department store unit being created as part of the extension, which will include 12 retail units.

Completion date Debenhams is to open in 2015, with the remainder of the extension opening in phases.

Bracknell, Berkshire

Developer Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (Legal & General Property and Schroders)

What’s happening? The partnership has plans to deliver an extra 600,000 sq ft of mixed-use space once work is completed in the north of the town. The bulk of the Bracknell Town Centre project - 560,000 sq ft - is made up of retail, 1,000 residential units and a 12-screen Cineworld. Construction is to begin early next year, following
demolition works this month.

Which retailers will it bring? The initial phase of the scheme was completed in 2011, when Waitrose opened a 36,000 sq ft store. Marks & Spencer has signed a pre-let to anchor the centre with an 80,000 sq ft store.

Completion date Summer 2016

Hereford

Developer Stanhope

What’s happening? Developed by Stanhope with forward funding from British Land, Old Market is the only new centre to open next year and will bring 300,000 sq ft of mixed-use space to Hereford. There will be 30 new units for retail, food and leisure, including one that will house Hereford’s only department store. The scheme will be in the centre of the town and have a major impact on its shopping landscape.

Which retailers will it bring? Debenhams is to anchor the scheme with an 83,500 sq ft store, and Waitrose will bring a 23,000 sq ft store.

Completion date Spring 2014

Brent Cross, London

Developer The Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners (Hammerson and Standard Life)

What’s happening? Work around Brent Cross Shopping Centre will include new streets, a railway station, 7,500 new homes and a redevelopment of the shopping centre. This will take it up to 1.1 million sq ft. With an amendment to the original planning application due at the end of this year, Hammerson and Standard Life plan to be
on site in 2015.

Which retailers will it bring? Expect most of the big names to stay, including anchors John Lewis and Marks & Spencer.

Completion date 2019

Eastbourne, East Sussex

Developer Legal & General Property (LGP)

What’s happening? Eastbourne Borough Council granted permission last year for an extension of LGP’s Arndale Centre, and a subsequent Section 106 agreement this year. The extension, which will get under way over the next 18 months, will bring 175,000 sq ft of new retail space across 22 new stores.

Which retailers will it bring? The Arndale Centre is already anchored by Marks & Spencer, Bhs and Primark, and more anchor stores are expected in the extension.

Completion date 2016

Nottingham

Developer Intu

What’s happening? After more than a decade of back and forth from Westfield, which first put a planning application in to redevelop the Broadmarsh centre in 2000, the Australian developer finally threw in the towel in 2011, selling the centre to Capital Shopping Centres - now rebranded as Intu. The landlord, which also owns Nottingham’s other big scheme, Victoria Centre, has since announced a £390m overhaul of both centres. So far it has only released details of a £40m reconfiguration of the Victoria Centre including plans for 12 new restaurants and revamped entrances.

Which retailers will it bring? Intu says providing space in Nottingham for retailers that have delayed entry to the city is a priority before it announces details of its plans for Broadmarsh.

Completion date The Victoria Centre revamp is due for completion in early 2014.