New owners seek to revitalise Ipswich's Sailmakers Shopping Centre

The big picture: The shopping centre, sold earlier this year for a smidge over £3m to an unknown buyer, is now being managed by Landswood de Coy LLP.

Penn Commercial and FHP have been appointed as letting agents to market empty units.

Key details:

• Sailmakers, located on Tavern Street, was built in 1986 and underwent extensive refurbishment in 2017.

• The centre spans 112,084 sq ft (10,413 sq m) of retail and leisure space but has faced ongoing challenges amidst ownership changes.

• Current tenants include Pandora, Boots, New Look, and Poundland.

• Ipswich Borough Council recently approved plans to create 26 new homes above the centre.

What they're saying:

Vanessa Penn, Managing Director of Penn Commercial, said: "We are excited to be chosen to let the flexible, multi-purpose units in Sailmakers Shopping Centre, located in the heart of Ipswich's busiest shopping thoroughfare."

Edward Schwab, Managing Partner at Landswood de Coy LLP, commented: "Sailmakers is a strategically located retail destination that presents a number of value-add opportunities that we look forward to progressing together with Penn and FHP."

Oliver Marshall, Director at FHP, added: "We are delighted to have been retained by Sailmakers' new owners to continue the good work started on attracting new operators to the Shopping Centre."

The bottom line: The new management aims to reinvigorate Sailmakers by bringing in new national and local retailers to enhance Ipswich's town centre offering.