THE RANGE CHECKS INTO SOUTH WALES RETAIL DESTINATION

The Range is to open a new store in Cwmbran, South Wales.

The homeware and garden retailer has signed a 15-year lease on a 30,620 sq ft retail unit at Llywelyn Walk, Cwmbran Shopping Centre, formerly occupied by Wilko.

It expects to open the new store in the next few months.

National commercial property and investment company LCP, part of M Core, owns and manages Cwmbran Shopping Centre.

It has secured several new deals with retailers at Cwmbran this year, including the recently opened Coffee#1 and Dunelm which is due to open at the end of the month.

Alex Williams, Asset Manager at LCP, said: “The Range consistently tops the list of desired new entrants to the town when we carry out customer feedback. We are delighted to be able to deliver on this desire and look forward to welcoming another household name to the town centre.

“The swiftness with which we’ve been able to secure reoccupation of the former Wilko space - with The Range being just one of numerous interested parties - is a testament to the continued high level of demand for retail premises in Cwmbran. It’s been a pleasure to work with the team at The Range to ensure that the transaction proceeded efficiently to enable opening prior to the busy Christmas period.”

LCP, which is part of M Core, one of the largest, privately held commercial property portfolios in the UK, has a strong appetite for investment and is actively seeking opportunities across the country.

M Core has invested more than £160 million over 12 months in 25 retail centres. Major acquisitions include M Park Alexandra in Lincolnshire, Weavers Wharf in Kidderminster and M Park Ocean Plaza and Central 12 in Southport.

It has £300 million available to invest for assets ranging from £500,000 to £30 million and portfolios up to £150 million.

Cwmbran serves an extensive catchment of 683,000 people and benefits from footfall of more than 19 million visitors a year.