In Leicester, John Lewis is to anchor the extension to the Shires shopping centre, where landlords Hammerson and Hermes plan to build another 645,000 sf, turning the mall into a 1.2-million-sf retail giant. Luke Mayhew, managing director of John Lewis, says "This multi-million pound investment demonstrates John Lewis' aim of securing a major representation within the East Midlands region."

And in Cardiff, John Lewis has reached agreement with the St David's Partnership--made up of Land Securities and Capital Shopping Centres--to anchor the one-million-sf St David's 2 development in the city centre. The mixed-use extension to the existing 350,000-sf St David's Shopping Centre will include new shops, cafes and restaurants, leisure space, offices and up to 300 residential units. St David's 2 was granted outline planning permission last year and the developers anticipate starting on site in 2005 with completion and opening in 2008.