The prime strategy is to add cinemas and leisure facilities to retail centres to draw more people to the shops.
Intu has begun site clearance for a 拢178m extension of its Watford shopping centre, to be anchored by Cineworld and Debenhams.
It is finalising pre-lets before starting a 拢75m redevelopment of Broadmarsh in Nottingham, which is part of a larger 拢250m makeover, and it is moving forward with a 拢95m, extension at Lakeside in Thurrock, to add 21,000 m2 of leisure facilities.
鈥淎s economic recovery spreads out from London and the south east to the regions, consumer confidence is positive, driving improved retailer demand for space in our centres at a time when new supply of quality retail space is very limited,鈥� said chief executive David Fischel. 鈥淚nvestor interest for prime regional shopping centres remains keen.鈥�
He added: 鈥淭hese factors provide a favourable background for our development programme as we look to introduce the next level of leisure concepts. We expect to undertake around 拢600m of mixed retail and leisure projects in the next three years in the UK, in particular the Intu Watford extension, and commence our major Spanish shopping resort development, Intu Costa del Sol.鈥�
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