Midlands puts itself forward as retail park location

RetailParks: New retail parks in Carlow and Longford are the latest in a string of new-style shopping facilities now being developed in many provincial towns.

The schemes are generally more profitable than conventional shopping centres for developers because of the lower building and maintenance costs. The promoters of Carlow Retail Park have just leased two further units alongside the Woodies store and garden centre, and the World of Wonder Toys outlet. Soft furnishings retailer Harry Corry will trade out of a 700 sq m (7,535 sq ft) building while World of Wonder Toys will occupy 1,600 sq m (17,222 sq ft) of space.

The latest arrivals are expected to be ready to open within six to eight weeks. With two other 700 sq m (7,535 sq ft) units under offer, remaining shops are "becoming scarce", according to letting agents Hamilton Osborne King and Southern Auctioneers. The quoting rent has been €215.28 per sq m.

Harry Corry has eight stores in the Republic as well as a number in Northern Ireland and Scotland and plans to open several more here. World of Wonder Toys operates as a franchise in many parts of Ireland. The park will benefit from the "critical mass of retailing in the town", according to the agents, because it is located close to the Aldi supermarket, the Superquinn-anchored Carlow Shopping Centre and the Fairgreen Shopping Centre where Tesco are the main draw.

Another retail park in Longford differs from others in that it has open use planning consent and the buildings are available to either buy or rent. Only two units are available at this stage, one with a floor area of 97 sq m (1,044 sq ft), the other with 129 sq m (1,389 sq ft) which will probably appeal to fashion or furniture traders, an off-licence or a pharmacy. The park has eight retail units with a total area of 3,117 sq m (33,551 sq ft) including the anchor store of 1,250 sq m (13,455 sq ft) occupied by the discounter Aldi. Other traders include Elverys Sports Store (400 sq m - 4,306 sq ft); ESB Electric (650 sq m - 6,996 sq ft); and The Jean Scene (300 sq m - 3,229 sq ft). Eurospar is currently fitting out a store of 994 sq m (10,700 sq ft).

Mark Reynolds of Hamilton Osborne King says the park is perfectly located to cater for the expanding midlands commercial market. He said Longford was beginning to make a name for itself as a location for electronic and computer firms.