Insider Media Limited

Footfall at Merseyway in Stockport is outpacing the national average for shopping centres, according to managing agent GVA.

Mark Rawstron, senior director of GVA in Manchester, told Insider that the centre has enjoyed an uplift in footfall in recent months, boosted by the arrival of clothing retailer Primark. He added that data released by The Local Data Company, which ranked Stockport as the worst performing large retail centre in the UK, was inaccurate.

"The Local Data Company's figures were at best confusing and at worst inaccurate," he said. "The figures tried to paint a picture of Stockport town centre when in reality they related to the borough as a whole.

"But the town centre is actually bucking regional and national trends as footfall is up and vacancy rates are lower than average. There's a very strong story to be told about the town centre."

Figures released earlier this month revealed that Merseyway enjoyed a 19 per cent rise in footfall on last year's visitor levels. Rawstron said the numbers had also grown further since Primark opened its 47,500 sq ft store in early September.

"The upward trend was well established long before Primark came, but there is no doubt that they had a further effect on bringing more people to the town," he said.

Rawstron added that there are about 12 vacant units in Merseyway, but GVA was hopeful of sealing a number of lettings before Christmas. GVA took over the running of the centre in 2009 after it was placed into the hands of receivers.