Member Article

Decathlon signs terms for shuttered BHS unit in Uxbridge

Sports retailer Decathlon is to open a new outlet at intu Uxbridge after agreeing to take a unit left vacant following last year’s collapse of BHS.

The French sports brand has signed terms for the 18,000 sq ft space which was previously occupied for 15 years by the now shuttered UK high street brand.

Citing the high-footfall at the west London shopping destination, and the dense concentration of corporate UK headquarters for global brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola and Cadbury, the retailer said it is hoping to capture a slice of the booming market for office professionals looking to squeeze in fitness regimes in between their work commitments.

Ricardo Rodriguez, who is London Expansion Manager at Decathlon, said: “Bringing Decathlon to intu Uxbridge is an important part of our strategy to make sports accessible to as many people as possible and to introduce more stores in densely populated urban locations.

“As a high-footfall, destination shopping centre, intu Uxbridge is an ideal location for us to reach more sports users in west London.”

Regional Director at intu, Rebecca Ryman, believes the high number of ‘young’ and ‘affluent’ residents in the area made it a ‘perfect destination’ for the international brand.

She commented: “intu’s nationwide portfolio of the country’s most popular shopping destinations means we’re well placed to help brands flourish as they tap into important shifts in consumer behaviour such as the growing trend around health and sports.”