Connswater Shopping Centre & Retail Park

Last Update: 15 May 2022 | New Project Added

  • Address: Connswater Shopping Centre & Retail Park, Belfast, BT5 5LP
  • Use: Retail
  • Additional Uses: Leisure
  • Size: 350,000 ft2
  • Floors: 2
  • Planning Status: Approved
  • Project Status: Completed
  • Start Date:

    1983

  • Completion Date:

    Ongoing

Connswater Shopping Centre and Retail Park is located on a 25 acre site at Albertbridge Road, Newtownards Road and Bloomfield Avenue. The site was the headquarters of the Belfast Ropework Company from 1871 until 1978. The site was cleared and Connswater Shopping Centre was completed in 1983 (later extended in 1994 and 2007) and the retail park was developed in the phases during the late 1990s.

CBRE placed the shopping centre and retail park on the market in September 2014 with offers invited in the region of £26m.

CBRE NI placed the shopping centre and retail park on the market in 2021 with offers invited over £15.5m.

 

Shopping Centre

The indoor shopping mall opened in 1983 with a T-shaped layout incorporating two large anchor tenants to the southern end of the main mall which included a further c.20no. retail units. The shopping mall was extended in 1994 with an additional 29no. retail units. A third extension and refurbishment between 2008-2009 comprised a new entrance lobby and first floor food court with 5no. food outlets.

Tesco anchored the shopping mall from 1996 (taking over Stewarts Crazy Prices) until closing on 4th April 2015. In the previous month Dunnes Stores closed their anchor store at Connswater.

The Range opened a 57,000ft2 store within the former Tesco unit in December 2017. The centre landlord invested £1m and the tenant invested £2m into the fit-out of the unit.

Brand Max opened a 22,000ft2 store within the former Dunnes unit in November 2018 and Sports Direct opened a 4,500ft2 store in December 2018.

Today the shopping mall extends to c.226,000ft2 and comprises 47no. retail units at ground floor and 5no. food court units at first floor. The mall is anchored by The Range and Brand Max and includes Sports Direct, Boots, Poundstretcher, Poundland, Peacocks, New Look and O2.

 

Retail Park

The retail park was developed in phases from the late 1990s and today comprises 15no. units extending to c.130,000ft2.

 

Unit 1 – House Proud (since 2016). Previously Poundworld (2012-2018) and Lazer Electrical (until 2010).

Unit 2-4 – Lidl (since July 2017, 20,000ft2). Previously three units: CarpetRight (to June 2014), JJB Sports (to Oct 2012) and Halfords (from 2010 – June 2014).

Unit 11-13 – Home Bargains (since Nov 2017, 20,000ft2). Previously Harry Corry (until March 2017).

Unit 10 – Halfords (since 2015, relocated following fire damage at Units 2-4). Previously Dreams (until 2013).

Unit 11 – Better Gym (since Nov 2015). Previously Fitness First.

Unit 17 – B&M Bargains (since 2010). Previously Budget DIY (until Nov 2006).

Unit P1 – Starbucks (since late 2016, 3,300ft2). Previously Pizza Hut (until May 2009).

Unit P2 – Tim Horton’s (since Dec 2018). Previously Carpet Right (2015 – 2018) and Xtra-Vision (until 2013)

Unit 12 – KFC

Unit 7A – Make a Difference – was American Golf (since at least 2008).

Unit 8B – Ulster Bank

Unit 8 – Re:Store by Belfast Mission. Previously Maplin (2008 – 2018).

Unit 8a – Bensons for Beds

Unit 14 – HSS Hire

Unit 15 – McDonalds

 

Parking

The Shopping Centre and Retail Park are accompanied by a surface and multi storey car park comprising c.1,650 spaces. A Belfast Bike docking station is located within the Retail Park.

Connswater Shopping Centre & Retail Park