University gives shopping new lease of life
Posted on 31 October 2002
The commercial development, which is the first dedicated shopping facility at the University, is also easily accessible to residents in the villages surrounding the University campus.
Known as Market Square, the shopping complex has a Costcutter supermarket, Blackwells bookshop, and the Students' Union 'Your Shop'. An independent travel agency, NYST, and a Print and Copy shop will open for business shortly. Market Square is attracting interest for the remaining shops, which are ready for fitting out by tenants. Retailers are attracted by the customer base of over 9,000 students and 2,500 University staff, together with customers from York Science Park and nearby residential areas.
"Business in Market Square has exceeded our expectations in its first few weeks," said Sue Johnston, the University's Campus Services Manager. "We would like to include music shops, computer supplies, financial services, hairdressers and others on site to serve this thriving market."
Market Square is situated in the centre of the campus and adjacent to University Road, the main thoroughfare of the campus. Short-term customer parking, a new bus stop and taxi pick-up points have been provided.
The development includes a new Information Centre, which is the arrival point for visitors to the University and an information service to students and staff. There is also commercial office space, which is currently fully occupied.
"Market Square is a contemporary and visually striking building," said Chris Jenkins of Howard Jenkins, the letting agent. "It offers a wonderful opportunity for retailers to reach nearly a tenth of the city's population in a busy and concentrated environment. The population is set to grow, not only from increased student numbers, but also because employment on the Science Park is increasing and because nearly 40,000 conference residents stay on campus each year."
"We really welcome the opportunity of expansion that moving to the market square will offer our students union shop, the facilities offered by this development will certainly make life a lot easier for students both living on and off campus."
Notes to editors:
- The retail units at Market Square are arranged on two trading levels, although each can be approached from ground level, given the split-level site. There are five shops remaining, four of which provide 980 sq ft (91 sq m) and one which provides 1,865 sq ft (173 sq m).
- The three floors of high quality, lift-served offices comprise 12,665 sq ft (1,175 sq m).
- The University of York has a student population of over 9,000 and employs 2,500 people in York. It has an annual turnover in excess of £100 million. It is a thriving university, ranked 5th out of 123 UK universities (Sunday Times, September 2001), and providing the catalyst for a number of economic growth projects in the city, including Science City York. The University is engaged in an £80 million capital development programme on campus to improve research, teaching and residential facilities.