Tonight:
9°c
Huge crowds expected as London's biggest mall opens
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Affairs Editor30.10.08
TENS of thousands of shoppers are expected to descend on Shepherd's Bush on Thursday to take advantage of bargains at London's biggest shopping centre.
Officially, Westfield London throws open its doors at 9am but police have advised the mall's operators to be ready to let shoppers in earlier if the crowds swell to unmanageable levels.
A spokesman for Australian shopping centre developer Westfield said: "The doors officially open at 9am but we will monitor the situation, we don't want a lot of people outside when it's cold."
Organisers are desperate to avoid a repeat of near riots at the opening of Ikea in Edmonton in 2005 and Primark in Oxford Street in April last year.
Discounts of up to 70 per cent are expected at some of the 240 stores opening tomorrow as the centre launches in the teeth of the worst retail downturn for more than 25 years.
Special day-one offers include 20 per cent off everything at House of Fraser for store card holders. Other stores will be offering free champagne and chocolates.
Although the vast £1.6 billion mall is opening on the scheduled day, not all the stores are ready. Only about 85 per cent will open tomorrow and only about half the outlets in the zone known as the Village.
Names such as Prada, Gucci and Dior and Louis Vuitton will be housed in the Village but have been delayed by installation of lavish shop fittings. The 14-screen cinema is also unfinished and will not open until next year. The complex is 99 per cent let. The opening ceremony is being performed by Boris Johnson at 10.30am followed by a performance by X-Factor winner Leona Lewis.
Other opening ceremonies are being conducted at Marks & Spencer by chairman Sir Stuart Rose with models Twiggy and Erin O'Connor as well as at House of Fraser by model Yasmin Le Bon.
However, there was criticism of the centre's lack of provision for cyclists today. John Griffiths, co-ordinator of Hammersmith & Fulham Cyclists, said: "The needs of property developers have come ahead of those of normal people, making the whole complex a nightmare for cyclists."
There is only room for 500 bikes on the cycle racks compared with 4,500 spaces for cars, he said. In addition, no extra provision for cyclists has been made on surrounding roads. The five "anchor" tenants at the centre, the biggest inner-city mall in Europe, are House of Fraser, Debenhams, Next, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose.
Reader views (21)
What credit crunch?
- Stuart, Luton, UK
I'me sure it will be known as Waste Field in a few years time after it has become run down as shops close due to the credit crunch
- Adam, Harrow, UK
I live on Macfarland Road right opposite Westfield and think that, although it will do a lot of good for the area, it will cause traffic mayhem on the already congested roads in the area! Already we cannot park on our street because it's been indundated with Westfield contractors and, as of today, they will be replaced with shoppers. This is extremely frustrating for me and fellow residents as, due to the one-way system, we end up having to drive all the way around the gridlocked green and come back again - this can take hours!!! I dread to think what it's going to be like during the busy Christmas shopping period...
- Jessica Broughton, London
What people must remember is that since the Tory party came to power in H&F, they have approved planning applications almost doubling the floor area of the centre. The greater the floor area – the more shops – the more there is to attract people to the centre. What the planning committee didn’t secure was extra benefits for the community. The traffic chaos is the doing of the current leader and his party and no one else.
- Tim, london
This on top of the congestion charge will make the West End a ghost town as far as shopping is concerned. The bike guy must be an idiot. I have never heard of a shopping centre having a 500 space bike rack and he wants even more. Some people are never satisfied. How many people does he want to risk their lives on bikes in West London?
- Ian, Vancouver, Canada
Just what the world needs, more shops. Don't matter about recreation areas, gotta have more shops.
- Ray, Australia
Does the Mall even have a name?? or is it just called shepherd's bush mall?? lol
- Paul, manchester
A shopping centre on this scale will take the strain off Oxford Street from all those Ealing shoppers. Spread the cash around the neighbourhoods everyone it’s just the shot of rejuvenation that Shepherd’s Bush needed. I’m grateful for the brand new train stations and the bus transit centre that will relieve the congestion on the chewing gum strewn streets, plus Shepherd’s Bush Green will finally get a make over next year to compliment the shopping centre – something that has been promised by the council for over ten years. I’ll still be doing my shop in Kensington High Street but, yay Westfield!
- Julian, London
I predict that this shopping centre will become a ghost down by this time next year. But long before than the streets of Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush will house hundres of boarded up shops and business premises. This development is as unnecessary as the nearby "white elephant" of the BBC
- Keith Price, Luton, England
why could they not think of another name in sted of westfield as there is one in derby
- Mike, london
This will dimish your High St shops. The big megaplexes are a large pulling power for keen shoppers - but personally i can't stand the artificial environment of these places. Teenagers seem to love them though.
- Wes, Perth, Australia
With discounts of up to 70%, expect to see scenes of mayhem and disorder as the underclass thugs of society try to snap up their cheap goods! I still recall the riots that broke out when IKEA opened their Edmonton store...
- Jock, London
I liked Shepherd's Bush the way it was before the start of building on this monstrosity. It is needed like a hole in the head.
- Phil Jones, London UK
London can't be preserved in aspic, if this and other future development have an effect on other areas then so be it. London would not be such a rich and varied city if we didn't look to the future and try to develop and change things.
- Andrew, london
It is an outdated concept.We have had malls with more stores than that for fifty years here.The result? Closing of the little shops.Target areas for yobs to hang around at night.People driving to the malls from the suburbs and creating an isolated and insular lifestyle.Goods cost more as the rents are higher for the stores.Silly..
- Dennis Moeller, Windsor Canada
It is an outdated concept.We have had malls with more stores than that for fifty years here.The result? Closing of the little shops.Target areas for yobs to hang around at night.People driving to the malls from the suburbs and creating an isolated and insular lifestyle.Goods cost more as the rents are higher for the stores.Silly..
- Dennis Moeller, Windsor Canada
Hey, it is good. It seems to have been brightening the surrounding areas which have been rather underdeveloped. Whatever development is going on, there are always good sides and down sides, just matter of minimizing bad effects.
A lot of people do like shopping, acutually we need to do shopping, even window-shopping.
- Sinsook, London
i predict at least 50 cars will stray into the £8 rip off zone and not realise it till they get a fine inthe post. happy days!
- Malcolm, chingford
I cannot understand why this shopping centre was ever allowed to happen - there are already sufficient shopping streets in west London which should be nurtured not undermined by this outdated and destructive concept. Watch Kensington High Street start to struggle and other areas fair even worse. Will the Evening Standard monitor the situation over the coming years? This could be the second great recent planning disaster after the third runway which the vested interests will no doubt soon ensure is pushed through. Disgusted of Barnes.
- Charles Campion, London
Its strange that the place is not even open and yet the moaners are out already. I suspect that most people who will go shopping there will not want to carry their purchases on a bicycle!
- Terry Senton, Hounslow Middx
No thanks.
- Liam, London
