Insider Media Limited

Retail giants Next and Sports Direct have moved into The Rushes Shopping Centre in Loughborough.

The pair have taken a total of 37,500 sq ft, relocating from smaller stores in the Market Street area of the city.

Next has signed a ten-year lease on a 15,000 sq ft unit, more than four times the size of its existing store in Loughborough. Four vacant units located between HMV and Marks & Spencer will be combined to create the new store, confirmed the letting agent Realis Estates.

The retailer said it planned to open the store in time for Christmas trading.

Sports Direct is also relocating from Market Place, taking a ten-year lease on the 22,500 sq ft unit formerly occupied by JJB Sports. It will open later this year.

Realis has also let 7,143 sq ft to public house operator Bar Sports at the front of The Rushes scheme.

Duncan Mathieson, managing director of Realis Estates, said: "The closure of Woolworths in 2009 could have been a body blow for The Rushes. Many thought it would be. In fact, since then, we have taken the scheme from strength to strength, agreeing a series of important letting deals with Tesco, Argos, HMV, Muffin Break and now Next and Sports Direct.

"We are delighted with the progress we have made in Loughborough and look forward being able to say that the scheme is fully let once we have secured the final tenant."

Letting agent for The Rushes is BWD. CBRE also advised Realis on the Next and Sports Direct deals.