JLP signs as anchor for Eastgate & Harewood development
John Lewis is to open a 260,000 sq ft (24,155 sq m) full-range department store in Leeds.

The department store operator has signed up as anchor tenant in the 1 million sq ft (92,900 sq m) Eastgate and Harewood Quarter development in the city centre.

The development is being promoted by the Leeds Partnership, made up of Hammerson and the Ziff family's Town Centre Securities.

Completion is scheduled for 2010. In addition to the John Lewis store, the development will include retail and leisure facilities, 500 residential units, 2,500 parking spaces and a public space. A planning application will be submitted before the end of the year.

John Lewis is expanding at the rate of one store a year. It already has sites lined up in Cambridge, Sprucefield in Northern Ireland, Sheffield, Liverpool, Crawley and Croydon.

Retail development director Ann Humphries said: 'We are delighted to have finally found the right location for John Lewis to serve Leeds and the extensive Yorkshire catchment area. We know that many of these customers already visit our department stores and we are excited at the prospect of providing them with a John Lewis closer to home.'