Hammerson set to open major mall in Marseille

Les Terrasses du Port, Hammerson’s new retail and leisure scheme in Marseille, will open to the public this Saturday following a £400 mln (€495 mln) investment by the UK REIT.

The 61,000 m2 scheme with 190 stores and restaurants is Hammerson’s first retail development in France, and the country's largest retail development project to open its doors in 2014.

The scheme which is 97% let (by income) brings over 30 new brands to the city, including Ted Baker, Uniqlo and Citadium. Parisian department store Printemps is opening its first new store in 30 years as the scheme’s anchor retailer.

Part of the centre’s ground floor level also acts as the passenger terminal for the passenger ferries to Corsica and Sardinia which transports around 600,000 passengers a year.

The scheme is a major part of the €7 bn urban regeneration project Euroméditerranée, which is transforming Marseille by providing new offices, retail, residential units and public space.

David Atkins, Hammerson Chief Executive, commented: 'Marseille has undergone a substantial transformation and Les Terrasses du Port delivers the major retail element of the Euroméditerranée regeneration project.'