Designer outlet group McArthurGlen has announced plans to double its presence in Germany with the addition of two new retail outlets, the Remscheid near Cologne and the Ochtrup scheme near Münster, to the North-west of the country.

Designer outlet group McArthurGlen has announced plans to double its presence in Germany with the addition of two new retail outlets, the Remscheid near Cologne and the Ochtrup scheme near Münster, to the North-west of the country.

McArthurGlen said it has agreed to buy a majority stake in the Ochtrup retail scheme from its owner and developers, fashion and retail entrepreneur Thomas Dankbar of Hütten Holding.

Under the deal, McArthurGlen will become the new manager of the centre, which provides 18,000 m2 over 65 stores. At its centre is an iconic 1893 listed building that used to belong to the Gebrüder Laurenz textile company. The centre has a free children’s play area and 1,500 car parking spaces.

The group is also investing a further €150 mln in the development of the Remscheid retail outlet which is due to open in 2017.

McArthurGlen Group already operates two designer outlets in Germany: McArthurGlen Berlin and McArthurGlen Neumünster, near Hamburg.

Gary Bond, McArthurGlen’s Managing Director of Development, said: 'We’re delighted to be working with Thomas Dankbar and his team and are confident we will add value through our extensive brand relationships and our international experience of DOC management. We also look forward to working closely with him to secure permission to extend the centre by a further 8,000 m2 sales area. I hope this will be the first of many new partnerships across Europe.'