SANDRA: You have been in the Shopping Centre industry for many years now. What triggered your interest in shopping centres?
ANTHONY: I think we are all a little bit interested in shopping, however, my professional interest arose as a result of working as a property manager and investment manager for P&O Properties, who owned the Arndale Centres and a number of other shopping centres throughout the UK.
SANDRA: Shopping Centres are rapidly evolving now to more than shopping destinations. What is the potential of them?
ANTHONY: That’s a difficult question to answer as it depends upon so many factors – economic, technological, government policy and legislation, etc. Larger shopping centres will continue to concentrate on ‘place making’, taking on all the characteristics of a town centre as a ‘one-stop life style’ venue catering for everyone’s needs (including collection of goods bought on the Internet). For centres in secondary locations, particularly the older and smaller centres, many have outlived their economically viable lives and will be redeveloped as mixed use developments in many cases with just a small retail element.
“Larger shopping centres will continue to concentrate on ‘place making’, taking on all the characteristics of a town centre as a ‘one-stop life style’ venue catering for everyone’s needs”
SANDRA: What would your advice be for professionals investing in shopping centres?
ANTHONY: Investment in shopping centres is different from any other type of property development. Employ professionals with experience of the sector and the area to give advice. Do your homework first – possibly attend this shopping centre investment course!
SANDRA: What is your favourite shopping centre development project you have been involved in?
ANTHONY: Probably Saxon Square, a small development in Christchurch, Dorset just because it was my first involvement in a retail development project. My most interesting project was a large shopping centre development “Festival Walk” in Hong Kong.
SANDRA: You have been one of our main trainers for a while now. What do you enjoy the most about the Shopping Centre Investment course?
ANTHONY: We never stop learning. I enjoy meeting delegates and other trainers to hear their experiences and views which help to increase my knowledge and understanding or trigger new ideas.
