Ashurst advised Westfield on its £600 million retail extension to Westfield London. The phase 2 joint venture with Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft will extend the market leading retail scheme by over 500,000 square feet. Ashurst also advised on the negotiation of the lease for the new 230,000 sq ft, four level John Lewis Anchor store.
The final key element was the negotiations with Transport for London, London Underground and London Bus Services on the exchange of relevant land interests and the relocation of a bus layover from the existing centre to beneath the new residential scheme which Westfield is developing separately.
On completion of the extension, Westfield London will total 2.6m sq ft across 450 shops, making it the largest mall in Europe. Since opening in 2008, Westfield London has transformed London's retail landscape, rejuvenating the local area through the improvement and expansion of key transport hubs. The 740,000 sq ft second-phase expansion will further contribute to the wider White City Opportunity Area.
The Ashurst London-based team was led by real estate partners Hugh Lumby, Jamie Chapman and Henry Moss, together with construction partner Ben Patton.