New tenants to take over former House of Fraser at Cwmbran Centre

A national sports retailer and gym operator have agreed to join the Cwmbran Centre, taking residence in the scheme’s former House of Fraser department store.

The Cwmbran scheme’s owner and asset manager, M Core subsidiary LCP Group said it could not disclose the names of the incoming operators.

The retailer has agreed a 10-year lease for 8,000 sq ft of retail space on the ground floor, whilst the gym operator will take a 15-year lease for 20,000 sq ft of space over the first and second floors.

Work on the former department store – which has lain vacant for 15 months – is expected to begin later this year, with the aim of completion before the end of 2024.

Alex Williams, asset manager of LCP, said: “While we cannot yet reveal the name of the tenant, we can say it is a significant coup for the town and another transformational agreement for Cwmbran Centre. The former House of Fraser store has enormous strategic importance, being located in the middle of the town, and redevelopment proposals promise to bring new life to the building and wider scheme.

“2023 has been a phenomenally successful year for the Cwmbran Centre, with more than 12.5 million visitors recorded this year so far and a string of new tenants. The commitment of these two national tenants further solidifies Cwmbran’s position as one of South Wales’s leading retail and leisure destinations.”

In recent months, the centre has welcomed the opening of Coffee#1 and Loungers, whilst Dunelm is set to open at the end of October. The occupancy rate currently stands at 95%, a five-year high.