THE ONLY major new shopping centre planned to open this year – The Showgrounds in Clonmel, formally to be launched this autumn – has been attracting increasing numbers of shoppers since Marks Spencer pulled up the shutters in June. The UK giant opened ahead of schedule, offering shoppers its range of clothing and food products in its store which extends to 2,137sq m (23,000sq ft). It is the company’s 20th outlet in Ireland.

Centre manager Julian Smith says that only 35 per cent of shoppers using the 11,000sq m (118,403sq ft) centre are local with the remainder travelling from a broad catchment area – the centre is within a 40-minute drive of 240,000 potential customers. “We look forward to a very successful opening later this year which will boost footfall further and build on the strong retail business we have already created at The Showgrounds,” he says.

Most of the 32 retail units have already been let to tenants, including Pamela Scott, Jack Jones, Only and Name It. Other fashion traders planning to move in will be named in the coming weeks. Food and lifestyle retailers committed include First Chapter, BB’s Coffee and Muffins, Crunch Food Store and Eddie Rockets.

Irish wine retailer Fine Wines is already trading “exceptionally well” according to the company. A jewellery store and Pralibel Belgian chocolate have also agreed rental terms.

Clonmel is an affluent town with a population of 19,000. It has a range of industries, including Boston Scientific, Abbott and Bulmers. Peter O’Meara of letting agent Savills says Clonmel’s growing population had, up to now, been underserved in terms of retail choice.

“Retailers are very impressed with the huge catchment from the south-east and we will be announcing more national and international brands shortly. Around 25 of the 32 shop units have already been committed and we are in advanced talks to fill the remaining units.”

The other letting agent is Tom Pollard Properties.