KENYA – Sarit Centre’s expansion plan has taken a step forward after the environment regulator issued a notice of the mall’s intention to increase its capacity.
A notice by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) says the Soma Properties, the proponents of the expansion project, plan to add a floor, parking silo and exhibition hall to the Westlands-based mall.
“The proposed project comprises of the following: 250,000 square foot of additional retail space to satisfy the increased demand for business activities,” said Nema’s notice.
The additional space will see the mall build a multi-story parking silo, an expanded entertainment hall, food court and a new floor to accommodate a second retail outlet to complement Uchumi Supermarkets.
In a previous interview Sarit Centre manager Dhruv Shah said demand for retail space had increased following the attack on the Westgate Mall in September 2013.
Shopping malls are expanding to cater for the growing consumer class in Nairobi and other major towns.
Broll Group, a property consultancy, says there is ample room for mall expansion.
Data from Broll indicates that the East African region has a shopping centre density of 3.7 square metres per 1,000 people which is far lower than South Africa’s 127 square metres per 1,000 people density.
Rosslyn Riviera Mall and Centum Investments Two Rivers mixed development, both in the Runda suburb of Nairobi County, are some of the major retail centres that are coming up around the City and its environs.
September 4, 2015; http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Sarit-Centre-edges-closer-to-hosting-second-retailer/-/539552/2857864/-/10h1d2f/-/index.html
