It is almost 3 months since the Government lockdown forced “non essential” retailers to close their stores. From the 15^th June they were allowed to open again and RivingtonHark welcomed back over 60% of our retail tenants who chose to reopen at the earliest opportunity with many more opening over the next two weeks. Unfortunately, we have to wait a little longer for our leisure and F&B tenants to reopen as the Government restrictions on these occupiers is not relaxed until 4^th July.

All of our schemes have been open since 23^rd March supporting the communities they serve and each centre management team has worked exceptionally hard over the lockdown period ensuring that all those “essential” retailers still trading and those shoppers visiting them were able to do so in a safe and clean environment. We have been planning for the wider reopening of our centres throughout this period and put in place bespoke measures at each scheme to accommodate social distancing and cleaning regimes that will help keep safe, and give confidence to, our returning shoppers, retailers and centre staff.

Mark Harvey, Director of Asset Management commented: “We have been looking forward to welcoming back tenants and shoppers and, although it has been difficult to know how consumer behaviour will have been affected by the lockdown, our plans are flexible and can deal with different scenarios.  We have worked hand in glove with all our Stakeholders and critically all our Local Authorities.  So, whether shoppers are keen to get out of the house and head for the shops, or react more cautiously, our centres are ready, willing and successfully coping.”