Westfield Stratford City has attracted 50 million visitors in the last year, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield have revealed. The East London destination has now welcomed more than 323 million visitors since its opening in 2011, generating retail sales of over £7.4 billion.
The announcement signals another first for the centre, which broke UK footfall records when it attracted 47 million people in its first year, with 9 million visiting during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Westfield Stratford City set another British record when it welcomed over 220 million visitors in its first five years, with retail sales of £5 billion.
Michel Dessolain, COO Europe for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said, “We are very proud to reach another UK first at Westfield Stratford City with footfall topping 50 million in twelve months. It is fitting that a destination at the heart of the Olympic legacy story continues to break records. Expectations for future growth are very strong with an estimated £22 billion to be invested by 2027 bringing more retail, homes and offices, as well as cultural and learning institutions to the area.”
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has also released data revealing the key trends which have shaped Westfield Stratford City and the broader retail landscape since the centre opened:
- Homewares sales are up 65.6%
- Health and beauty sales have risen 54.7% with over 20 stores reflecting the growing wellness trend
- Food and beverage sales are up 30.4%, with over 80 outlets catering for a bigger appetite for enhanced dining options
- Jewellery sales have increased by 47%
The latest footfall milestone comes after Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield published a report into the socio-economic impact of its centres in London over the past decade, ‘10 Years in the Making’, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of Westfield London on the other side of the Capital. The report analysed the economic contribution of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s two global flagship destinations – Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – which are estimated to directly generate £22 billion-£30 billion of gross economic activity (GVA) over the next 20 years.
According to the report, one in five Westfield Stratford City employees live in the London Borough of Newham, where 13% of all jobs are supported by the centre. Other contributions cover £12m to fund transport and infrastructure improvements including the DLR extension to Stratford International, better bus services with neighbouring boroughs, and improved pedestrian and cycle routes. Further investment is planned with the residential development featuring 1,200 new homes.
Westfield Stratford City is home to over 30 ‘UK first’ stores and concepts for local and international retailers such as Victoria’s Secret, Stradivarius, Ikea and Smiggle. In October, innovative cosmetics brands Morphe and Too Faced chose the centre to open their first UK stores.
