Bicester Village and Brent Cross owner Hammerson reported a 2.3 per cent rise in net asset value to the end of 2012 thanks to a strong performance at its designer outlet villages. Net asset value at Hammerson rose 2.3 per cent to £5.42 per share at the end of 2012, as the shopping centre landlord reported a 2.1 per cent growth in like-for-like net rental income.

Posted by Ava Szajna

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The Whitgift Centre. Developers Westfield Group and Hammerson have agreed to redevelop the Croydon-based Whitgift shopping centre together, after months of duelling over the rights to its ownership. The conflict began when both developers were offered the rights to redevelop the centre by multiple companies who owned a share of interest in it.

Posted by Ryan Legge

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Hammerson's Highcross centre in Leicester. British retail property giant Hammerson has reported a surge in footfall at its UK shopping centres as consumers flock to finish their Christmas shopping. Leicester’s Highcross centre saw its busiest day ever on 16 December, with footfall up 30 per cent from the year before, while retailers at Hammerson’s Union Square shopping centre in Aberdeen took on over 150 temporary staff to help deal with demand over the peak trading season.

Posted by Ava Szajna

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Australian shopping centre group Westfield has submitted plans to redevelop the Whitgift Centre in Croydon, despite reports earlier this year that the mall’s owners could not agree on a developer. If successful, Westfield’s plans would add a third shopping centre to its London property portfolio, which includes the Westfield London mall in Shepherd’s Bush, and the Stratford City centre at the site of the Olympic 2012 Games.

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Hammerson has made yet another investment in the Northern city, spending £136 million acquiring the Victoria Quarter in Leeds. A luxury retail development running through the city centre, the Victoria Quarter is home to Harvey Nichols’ first branch outside of London, as well as ornate, listed arcades housing Louis Vuitton, Vivienne Westwood and Mulberry stores.

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The Bullring Shopping Centre, Birmingham. Lawrence Hutchings, managing director of UK retail and member of the Group Executive Commitee at Hammerson has announced he will step down from his position at the end of September. Hutchings, who joined Hammerson from Henderson Global Investors in 2008, will leave the business to spend time in Australia, due to family reasons.

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The proposed Eastgate Quarters development. After laying in wait for eight years, Hammerson’s stalled £600 million retail development in Leeds is thought to be back in business. According to the Independent, Hammerson is looking to get the ball rolling on its Eastgate retail scheme in Leeds, after selling off a raft of London offices to rival Brookfield for £518 million.

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Hammerson's Cabot Circus, Bristol, Rumours that the British property development company could be about to snapped up in a takeover bid were back in play on Tuesday. The Independent reported that “vague rumours” suggesting the Bullring and Brent Cross owner could be up for grabs led a late rally with Hammerson shares up 3.2p at 420.5p by the close of market.

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Aberdeen’s Union Square centre has revealed its highest ever first quarter footfall since opening back in October 2009. From January to March of this year, more than 3.2 million people visited the Hammerson development, representing a 28 per cent increase on 2010’s figures.

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The revival of Croydon’s Whitgift shopping centre has sparked yet more controversy as it was yesterday revealed the mall’s freeholder had been “excluded from the process” of any development agreement. Talks are thought to have reached a stalemate as the mall’s owners sided with two different developers, Australian company Westfield Group and Anglo-French firm Hammerson.

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