Westfield Stratford City

Westfield Stratford City is a large shopping and leisure centre in Stratford, East London, United Kingdom. It opened on 13 September 2011 as a central component of the wider Stratford City regeneration project, a mixed-use development built alongside the facilities associated with the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. The centre occupies a former industrial and railway area that included Stratford Works and the Stratford locomotive depot, and its construction formed part of the transformation of a strategically important but historically underused part of East London. With approximately 1,910,000 square feet, or 177,000 square metres, of retail floor area, Westfield Stratford City is one of the largest urban shopping centres in Europe and the largest urban shopping centre in the United Kingdom by land area. It has also been described as the fourth-largest shopping centre in the United Kingdom by retail space, behind Westfield London, the MetroCentre and the Trafford Centre. The complex contains approximately 280 stores and 70 restaurants, combining department stores, supermarkets, fashion retailers, specialist shops, food and beverage venues, entertainment and hospitality. Its principal anchors and attractions include a 240,000-square-foot John Lewis department store, a 136,000-square-foot Marks & Spencer department store, a 32,000-square-foot Waitrose supermarket, the 24-hour Aspers casino and a 20-screen all-digital Vue cinema. The surrounding development also includes hotels, including a 267-room Premier Inn, a 350-room Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites accommodation. This combination gives the centre a broader role than a conventional retail mall: it functions as a shopping destination, dining district, entertainment venue, transport-linked commercial hub and visitor gateway to the Olympic Park and the wider Stratford area. Transport connectivity is central to its positioning. Westfield Stratford City is adjacent to Stratford station, served by the Central and Jubilee Underground lines, Greater Anglia, the Elizabeth line, London Overground, the Docklands Light Railway and selected c2c services. Stratford International station, to the north, provides Southeastern high-speed and Docklands Light Railway services. Local and long-distance bus services use Stratford bus station and Stratford City bus station. The centre has a car park with approximately 5,000 spaces, but the operator has stated that about 80 percent of visitors arrive by public transport. The project was initially developed under the Westfield Group. In November 2010, the ABP Pension Fund and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board each acquired a 25 percent interest, leaving Westfield with 50 percent. Following Unibail-Rodamco's acquisition of Westfield Corporation in 2018, Westfield's retained interest became part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The centre remains part of the Westfield-branded portfolio. Westfield Stratford City was promoted as a major source of economic regeneration and employment, with projections of up to 10,000 permanent jobs, including 2,001 positions intended for local residents. Its economic effects have also been debated. Supporters have highlighted investment, employment, improved infrastructure and the creation of a large regional destination. Critics and counter-reports have argued that the concentration of national chains and large-format retailers placed pressure on existing independent and local businesses. The centre's public profile was reinforced by an opening performance by Nicole Scherzinger in September 2011 and by the filming of an Olly Murs music video there in January 2012.

The site now occupied by Westfield Stratford City was historically associated with railway engineering and industrial activity. Stratford Works and the Stratford locomotive depot operated in the area, reflecting Stratford's long-standing importance as a transport and manufacturing centre in East London. Over time, the railway and industrial land became part of a much larger regeneration opportunity connected to improvements in transport infrastructure and the development of the Olympic Park. The Stratford City project was conceived as a substantial mixed-use extension to the existing Stratford district. Its objectives included creating new retail, hospitality, residential, employment and public-realm facilities while improving connections between Stratford station, Stratford International, the Olympic Park and surrounding neighbourhoods. Westfield became the principal commercial developer and planned a large shopping centre intended to serve both local residents and visitors from across London and beyond. Ownership was initially concentrated in the Westfield Group. Before the centre opened, in November 2010, the ABP Pension Fund and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board each bought a 25 percent shareholding. Westfield retained the remaining 50 percent. This structure brought major institutional investors into the development while preserving Westfield's role as its principal branded and operating partner. Westfield Stratford City opened on 13 September 2011, less than a year before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its location beside the Olympic Park gave the centre immediate international visibility and made it one of the most prominent elements of the area's regeneration. The opening was supported by a public performance from Nicole Scherzinger. The centre's scale, retail mix and direct access to multiple rail and Underground services were designed to support high visitor volumes and make the development a major destination in its own right. The completed centre contains approximately 1,910,000 square feet, or 177,000 square metres, of retail floor area. It includes around 280 stores and 70 restaurants, with large anchors such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. Leisure and hospitality uses broaden the offer through Aspers casino, Vue's 20-screen digital cinema and several hotels, including Premier Inn, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites. The centre is connected to Stratford station and Stratford International station, while local bus stations and extensive rail links make public transport a defining part of its operating model. The development was presented as an economic regeneration project capable of creating up to 10,000 permanent jobs, of which 2,001 were expected to go to local people. It also changed the commercial geography of East London by concentrating a very large number of retailers, restaurants and leisure businesses around Stratford's transport interchange. Positive assessments have emphasised employment, investment, improved infrastructure and the area's enhanced status as a London destination. However, the project has also attracted criticism. Counter-reports argued that the prevalence of national chain stores could harm smaller and independent businesses elsewhere in the local area. This tension between regeneration through large-scale commercial development and the effects on existing businesses remains part of the centre's broader public context. In 2012, the centre gained further popular-culture exposure when Olly Murs filmed the video for "Oh My Goodness" there. In 2018, Unibail-Rodamco acquired Westfield Corporation. The transaction placed Westfield Stratford City's Westfield ownership interest within Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which continues to operate the centre under the Westfield name.

• 2018

  Westfield becomes part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

  [1]Westfield Stratford Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Unibail-Rodamco's acquisition of Westfield Corporation transferred the Westfield group's ownership interest in the centre to Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.

• 2012

  Olly Murs music video filmed at the centre

  [1]Westfield Stratford Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Olly Murs filmed the music video for his single "Oh My Goodness" at Westfield Stratford City in January 2012.

• 2011

  Centre opens

  [1]Westfield Stratford Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Stratford City opened on 13 September 2011 beside the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.

• 2010

  Institutional investors acquire minority interests

  [1]Westfield Stratford Cityen.wikipedia.org

  ABP Pension Fund and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board each acquired a 25 percent shareholding, while Westfield retained 50 percent.

A large, transport-connected regional shopping and entertainment destination integrated with Stratford's Olympic and urban regeneration district.

• Fashion and general merchandise retail · 2011

  Retail stores

  The centre provides approximately 280 retail units covering fashion, beauty, electronics, lifestyle, specialist goods and general merchandise. Its tenant mix is anchored by major national and international chains, giving the development the scale and breadth of a regional shopping destination.

• Department store · 2011

  John Lewis

  The approximately 240,000-square-foot John Lewis department store is one of Westfield Stratford City's principal anchors. It contributes a broad department-store offer spanning home, fashion, beauty and other consumer categories.

• Department store · 2011

  Marks & Spencer

  The approximately 136,000-square-foot Marks & Spencer store provides a major anchor presence within the centre, combining the retailer's clothing, home and food-oriented department-store activities.

• Supermarket · 2011

  Waitrose

  The approximately 32,000-square-foot Waitrose supermarket adds a substantial grocery and food-retailing component to the centre's otherwise predominantly fashion, department-store and leisure-oriented offer.

• Food and beverage · 2011

  Restaurants and food venues

  Approximately 70 restaurants and food venues serve shoppers, local residents, workers and visitors. The dining offer forms a central part of the centre's role as an all-day destination rather than solely a retail facility.

• Leisure and gaming · 2011

  Aspers casino

  Aspers provides a 24-hour casino operation within the complex, extending the centre's entertainment offer beyond shopping, restaurants and cinema.

• Cinema and entertainment · 2011

  Vue cinema

  The centre includes a 20-screen, all-digital Vue cinema. Its scale makes film exhibition one of the principal leisure attractions within the Westfield Stratford City complex.

• Hotels · 2011

  Hospitality facilities

  The surrounding development includes a 267-room Premier Inn, a 350-room Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites. These hotels support visitors to the shopping centre, the Olympic Park, Stratford's business district and the wider East London area.

• 2012Oh My Goodness music-video location

  United Kingdom

  Olly Murs filmed the music video for "Oh My Goodness" at Westfield Stratford City in January 2012.

  Outcome. The filming gave the centre additional exposure in popular culture shortly before and during the period of heightened attention surrounding the London 2012 Games.

  Source
• 2011Opening performance by Nicole Scherzinger

  United Kingdom

  Nicole Scherzinger performed at the centre's public opening on 13 September 2011, helping establish Westfield Stratford City as a high-profile retail and entertainment destination.

  Outcome. The performance provided launch publicity and linked the opening to the centre's role in the wider Stratford regeneration project.

  Source

• 2018

  Transfer into the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield portfolioM&A

  Background

  Unibail-Rodamco acquired Westfield Corporation, including the Westfield group's interest in Stratford City.

  Action taken

  Ownership of Westfield's stake moved to Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.

  Aftermath

  The centre continued operating under the Westfield brand within the enlarged Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield portfolio.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch of the Westfield Stratford City retail destinationProduct launch

  Background

  The centre was developed as part of Stratford City, a mixed-use regeneration project adjacent to the Olympic Park and major transport facilities.

  Action taken

  Westfield Stratford City opened on 13 September 2011 with department stores, a supermarket, restaurants, leisure attractions and hotel accommodation.

  Aftermath

  The centre became one of the largest urban shopping destinations in the United Kingdom and a major commercial component of the regenerated Stratford district.

  Source

• 2010

  Westfield brings in institutional co-investorsM&A

  Background

  Before the centre opened, its ownership structure was revised to include two institutional investors.

  Action taken

  ABP Pension Fund and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board each acquired a 25 percent interest, leaving Westfield with a 50 percent holding.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement made the centre a jointly owned investment while Westfield remained the principal branded group associated with the development.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Stratford Cityen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westfield Stratford City official websiteuk.westfield.com