Member Article

Revealed: Shaftesbury's closes in on £15m Chinatown mixed-use development

A new £15m development in London’s West End that will soon act as a gateway between Chinatown and some of the capital’s most popular destinations has been revealed today by developers Shaftesbury.

Its Central Cross development, which is due to be completed in late Spring 2017, will provide 48,000 sq ft of mixed-use space, including a new double-height restaurants and retail units across up to three floors.

The development, which is positioned at a key thoroughfare in the West End where Covent Garden, Soho and Leicester Square all meet, will look to bring further food and beverage operators to the area, with units ranging from 400 sq ft to 4,300 sq ft to complement the existing businesses at the site.

In total, the new development, which includes elevations to Newport Court and Newport Place, will bring seven new restaurants to Chinatown, including three with the area’s first outdoor seating for al fresco dining, with a focus on both homegrown and international operators.

Julia Wilkinson, Portfolio and Group Restaurant and Strategy Executive at Shaftesbury, commented: “Central Cross’s curated mix of new Chinese and East Asian F&B concepts will attract a cosmopolitan consumer, providing an opportunity for operators to connect with a young, multi-cultural, foodie audience throughout the day and into the evening, seven days a week.

“We are already experiencing strong demand from restaurant operators ranging from local independent operators to international concepts, all seeking to create a presence in central London that truly embodies their brand.”

As the project moves towards completion, Shaftesbury has also confirmed the appointment of DCL as the restaurant agent who will be charged with finding tenants for the new scheme.