The single floor shopping centre - four miles from the city centre in the Crossgates suburb - serves a very loyal East Leeds catchment. Centre manager Stephen Seymour joined the centre four years ago and has no plans to move on to a larger scheme any time soon, as he enjoys feeding off the passion his customers and tenants have for the centre.

"People still call it The Arndale Centre," says Seymour, who adds that even some of the local children have picked up on that, despite the name change having taken place nearly two decades ago. "Visitors regularly come to the centre three or four times a week. They're not transient, they're really here to shop. It's constantly busy. We have a strong flow of shoppers throughout the day, not peaks and troughs."

Seymour knows many of his customers by name and insists that local residents have effectively taken ownership of the scheme. "It's nice to have those unique individuals. For me it's the smallest but best centre I have ever worked at. And, because we're not located in a town or city we don't have the associated problems that go with that. For example, the last time we had a problem with graffiti was two years ago."

The centre has undergone a number of changes over the last four decades. The L-shaped covered mall has remained but the old Arndale fixtures and fittings have gone and a new stainless steel ceiling and improved finishes have been put in place. And now, new owner John Gall Place Investments, which bought the scheme two years ago, is making more changes.

One thing that is constantly under review is the tenant mix. Ladies and gents fashion is something that has developed over the past two years with the opening of Peacocks and Bon Marche. "Now we're looking to develop the fashion side and possibly get a sports shop," comments Seymour, who says he would like to tap into the AB profiles within the catchment.

"We're still, to a degree, a value shopping centre, but the quality has improved. I would love a River Island, Top Shop and JJB Sports to come here. They'd all fit extremely well within the profile."

John Gall Place Investments has ploughed a huge amount of money into extending and developing the 60-unit, 190,000-sq ft centre and is continuing to do just that. Last year Wilkinson extended its offer by taking over the neighbouring Boots store and became the anchor tenant at that point. O2 was the last tenant to open at Crossgates, but other recent lettings include the Cheque Centre and food offers from Subway and local independent, Flavours. Timpson is due to open this month, which will leave one vacant unit, which already has two offers submitted on it.

"Hopefully by our birthday we'll be 100 per cent let," says Seymour.

Moving forward, there is currently a planning application in for a new multi-storey car park, which would be built on the larger of the scheme's surface car parks and would increase the number of spaces by approximately 150. The planning application also includes the potential to extend 12 retail units within the shopping centre.

"They are investors with a keen view and a strong opinion of what the centre wants," says Seymour. "Enlarging the units will attract the new retailers that we want. The units will be extended at the back and some first floor storage will be added.

"Most retailers are looking for 3,000 sq ft as a minimum and the original units are 1,000 sq ft models. It's the size of the units that's the main restriction but we have had a lot of interest."

Crossgates also has a lot of independent retailers, such as Terry's Barbers, McNicholas Opticians and East of India restaurant, which took over a unit that used to be a snooker hall a few years ago.

"The owners have a very strong passion for the centre and a desire to develop it in their interests but also for the local shopper," says Seymour.

Celebrations for Crossgates' 40th birthday will take place on September 16 and will include various displays and appearances from local groups and residents.

vital statistics

crossgates centre

Owners: John Gall Place Investments

Managing agents: McKibbin Commercial

Letting agents: McKibbin Commercial and Colliers CRE

GLA: 190,000 sq ft

Weekly footfall: 90,000

Dwelltime: Approximately one and a half hours

Anchor stores: Wilkinson, Peacocks, Tesco Metro, Bon Marche, Woolworths, Superdrug, Bodycare and New Look

Current parking spaces: 420

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