Crescent Link Retail Park

Crescent Link Retail Park is an out-of-town retail park located in the south eastern periphery of Derry, Northern Ireland. It is just off the A514, which itself is named Crescent Link; hence the retail park's name. The development is located 3 miles (4.8 km) from the centre of Derry City.

As the second largest retail park of its kind in Northern Ireland, Crescent Link sits in a great location in Carn, Londonderry and boasts a large representation of multi-national retailers, such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Homebase, Currys, PC World and Toys R Us.^[1]

First Phase

The first phase was built to the northern side of the development, which saw ten units built in the early 2000s. These units housed both established Derry stores and stores new to the city; Such as Homebase, Currys, PC World, Reid Furniture, Sleepmasters, Carpet Right, McDonalds, Subway, Starbucks and First Trust Bank.

Second Phase

The second phase saw the development expand to the southern reaches of the site, with the further addition of eight units. These now house Toys r us, Halfords, Argos Extra, JJB, Maplin, Pets at Home, M&S Simply Food, Tesco Express, and the now defunct MFI and Land of Leather. MFI was replaced by Next Home at the end of 2009, with Mothercare also opening in the Park.

Future

In August 2010, after much anticipation, Asda announced Crescent Link as being its location for its debut Derry store. The unit which currently houses Homebase will be altered and extended, allowing the addition of a large 40,000sq ft retail unit whilst retaining the Homebase retail outlet at the site.^[2] Plans have also been lodged for a competitive development, further south on the A514, of the Kilfennan Roundabout. This will be home to a new Sainsburys along with Petrol Station, a Premier Inn hotel and six screen cinema, along with other facilities for the local population.^[3] It is largely recognised that Crescent Link has benefited from passing trade along the A514, as this road is the main link between the Foyle Bridge and Belfast bound road. It will need to be seen what impact will occur to this passing trade when the high quality dual carriage way is built from 2012, which will start at the Gransha Roundabout and continue 20 miles (32 km) to its terminus at the eastern edge of Dungiven.^[4]

The Derry Journal announced on 1 September 2010 that Boots had lodged plans to take over unit 15.

References

1. ^ http://www.completelyretail.co.uk/scheme/3956 Crescent Link Retail Park on CompletelyRetail.
2. ^ "Asda Crescent Link". http://www.asdacrescentlink.com/. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
3. ^ "New retail development for Crescent Link". http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=111224. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
4. ^ "Derry to Dungiven HQDC". http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a6dungiventoderry.html. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 

Coordinates: 54°59′55″N 7°16′26″W / 54.99850°N 7.27394°W / 54.99850; -7.27394