Vinci lined up for £74m Trafford Centre extension

Intu is working with Vinci to deliver an overhaul of Barton Square at the Trafford Centre, which will add more than 110,000 sq ft of retail space and will be home to a new Primark store.

The contractor is understood to be working on a pre-construction deal, although Intu said the firm had not yet been confirmed as main contractor for the scheme.

Intu is hopeful of starting work on the project in the first half of this year, which includes an extension of Barton Square and the conversion of the former BHS Home unit into Primark’s new store.

Designed by Leach Rhodes Walker, the extension includes a new glazed roof over Barton Square, which is home to brands including Next Home, Sea Life, the Legoland Discovery Centre, and Laura Ashley.

In a statement to Place North West, Martin Breeden, development director at intu, said: “The scale of our multi-million-pound investment to expand and refresh intu Trafford Centre’s Barton Square will be reflected in everything from the quality of its design to the improved facilities on offer.

“We’re looking forward to creating a new space with a real ‘wow factor’ befitting such an architecturally-rich building.

“Vinci are our chosen supplier at this early stage of the process and we will be appointing a main contractor for the work later this year.”

Barton Square’s two-level Marks & Spencer store was closed at the start of the year at the end of the company’s lease, freeing up further retail space, although it is understood a replacement tenant has not yet been signed up.

Planning permission for the development was first secured in 2011. Construction is expected to run until early 2019, and the Primark store and other retail development is expected to open later that year.

Cushman & Wakefield is the retail agent for Intu. Vinci was approached for comment.