Shopping centre open for business

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SouthGate centre opens to public

The first shops at a new £360m shopping centre in Bath have been opened.

Fourteen shops opened on Wednesday as part of the first phase of the SouthGate centre which aims to transform the southern end of the city.

The second phase is due for completion by next May while the third stage will see 99 flats built by September 2010.

Work has been taking place on the nine-acre site for the past two years which also includes underground parking for more than 800 cars.

BBC West business correspondent Dave Harvey said: "This is going to bring many high street names to the city which have never been seen before in Bath.

It's also bringing new retail to Bath so it's not taking retail from the city centre so I think it'll complement what's already here Simon Pullen, centre manager

"The city's beautiful architecture throws up odd-shaped buildings which don't suit national chains and SouthGate is an answer to that."

Speaking ahead of the opening centre manager Simon Pullen said he was a little apprehensive about opening in a recession.

"Just opening a new development is always an exciting time but we've put all the hard work in during the run-up so I think the day will go really well.

"If you were anywhere else other than Bath then it would be a difficult time. We've seen retailers that have got a lot of confidence in the city and they're opening stores that are not looking to expand their business anywhere else in the UK."

But Mr Pullen said he believed SouthGate would not poach trade from elsewhere in the city.

"It links in really well with the city so it just looks like another part of the area. It's also bringing new retail to Bath so it's not taking retail from the city centre so I think it'll complement what's already here," he added.