Howard Centre

The Howard Centre is a shopping centre in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. It is named after Sir Ebenezer Howard, the founder of the garden city movement, whose ideas shaped the planning and development of Welwyn Garden City. The centre opened in October 1990 after construction by Tarmac Construction and became a principal retail destination for the town and its surrounding area. The centre provides approximately 230,000 square feet, or about 21,000 square metres, of retail space arranged over two levels. Its tenant mix has included national fashion, health and beauty, books, stationery, food and general merchandise retailers. Retailers identified as anchor or major tenants include Boots, WHSmith, Monsoon and H&M. For many years, Marks & Spencer was the centre's largest anchor occupier, operating an approximately 84,000-square-foot store across both floors at the northern end of the development. Ownership and management have changed during the centre's history. Segro owned and managed the Howard Centre from its opening in 1990 until 2004. Ownership then transferred to Landsec, which continued to manage the property until it was sold in October 2009. LaSalle acquired the centre in that disposal and has owned and managed it since, according to the available reference material. A significant recent change in the centre's retail profile occurred in April 2022, when Marks & Spencer closed its Howard Centre branch and relocated its operation to Stevenage. The closure removed the centre's largest historical anchor store, although the Howard Centre continued to operate as a shopping destination with other national retailers and services. Its location in the town centre, together with its connection to the wider Welwyn Garden City urban environment and nearby railway station, remains central to its role in local retail activity.

The Howard Centre is a shopping centre in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, named in recognition of Sir Ebenezer Howard. Howard was associated with the garden city movement, and Welwyn Garden City was planned within that tradition. The centre therefore carries a name connected to the town's urban-planning heritage rather than to a private retail founder or a consumer-goods brand. Construction was undertaken by Tarmac Construction, and the centre opened in October 1990. Designed as a substantial town-centre retail development, it provided approximately 230,000 square feet, equivalent to about 21,000 square metres, of space distributed over two levels. The development was intended to provide a concentrated retail destination for Welwyn Garden City, accommodating large national retailers alongside other shops and services. Segro owned and managed the centre from its opening until 2004. In that year, ownership transferred to Landsec, which retained management responsibility. Landsec subsequently disposed of the property in October 2009. LaSalle became the owner through that transaction and has also managed the centre since then. These changes reflect the Howard Centre's role as an investment property within the portfolios of major commercial real-estate organisations rather than as an independently operated retail brand with its own product manufacturing business. The centre's retail offer has included Boots, WHSmith, Monsoon and H&M. Marks & Spencer was historically the most prominent anchor, with an approximately 84,000-square-foot store extending across both floors at the northern end of the building. Its presence helped give the centre a major department-store-style draw and supported the wider tenant mix. In April 2022, Marks & Spencer closed its Howard Centre branch and moved its operation to Stevenage. The departure represented a notable change in the centre's tenant composition and removed its largest historical anchor. The Howard Centre nevertheless continued to function as a shopping centre, supported by other national retailers and its central position in Welwyn Garden City. Available reference material does not provide a detailed account of later redevelopment, current individual occupancies, visitor numbers, financial performance or management personnel, so those matters are not stated here.

• 2022

  Marks & Spencer leaves the Howard Centre

  [1]Howard Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Marks & Spencer closed its large Howard Centre branch in April and relocated to Stevenage.

• 2009

  LaSalle acquires the centre

  [1]Howard Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Landsec disposed of the Howard Centre in October 2009. LaSalle acquired the property and assumed ownership and management.

• 2004

  Ownership transfers from Segro to Landsec

  [1]Howard Centreen.wikipedia.org

  After Segro's ownership and management period, the Howard Centre transferred to Landsec, which continued to manage the property.

• 1990

  Howard Centre opens

  [1]Howard Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre, constructed by Tarmac Construction, opened in October 1990 in Welwyn Garden City.

A centrally located regional shopping centre serving Welwyn Garden City and nearby communities through a broad mix of national retail tenants and town-centre services.

• Shopping centre · 1990

  Retail space and shopping-centre services

  The Howard Centre's principal offering is access to a two-level town-centre retail environment of approximately 230,000 square feet. Rather than selling products under a proprietary brand, it provides premises and customer infrastructure for retailers across fashion, health and beauty, books and stationery, and general merchandise. The tenant mix has included Boots, WHSmith, Monsoon and H&M, with Marks & Spencer historically serving as the largest anchor.

• 2022

  Relocation of Marks & Spencer from the centreStrategy

  Background

  Marks & Spencer operated the Howard Centre's largest anchor store, occupying approximately 84,000 square feet across both floors at the northern end of the centre.

  Action taken

  Marks & Spencer closed the Howard Centre branch in April 2022 and relocated its operation to Stevenage.

  Aftermath

  The departure changed the centre's anchor-tenant structure and removed a major historical draw, while the Howard Centre remained open with other retailers.

  Source

• 2009

  Sale from Landsec to LaSalleM&A

  Background

  Landsec owned and managed the Howard Centre after acquiring it from Segro in 2004. The property was subsequently placed into a disposal process.

  Action taken

  Landsec disposed of the centre in October 2009, with LaSalle becoming the owner and manager.

  Aftermath

  LaSalle has continued to own and manage the Howard Centre according to the available reference material.

  Source

1. 1Howard Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Howard Centre official websitehowardcentre.co.uk