£350M RETAIL PARK BID

PROPERTY giant Hammerson has confirmed it is in talks to sell its UK retail parks.

The firm said it was in negotiations with Canadian private equity firm Brookfield.

The stock market announcement followed reports that Brookfield was in talks to pay about £350million for seven retail parks in Falkirk, Didcot, Middlesbrough, St Helens, Telford, Merthyr Tydfil and Rugby.

Hammerson, like others, has been hit hard by lockdown and a slump in rent payments. It has been forced to slash the value of its shopping centres by nearly £2billion. Its other assets include the Brent Cross mall and Birmingham’s Bullring.

SUSHI chain Yo! is to begin selling food-to-go in branc of WH Smith. Meanwhile, D chain Homebase has open six garden centres in Next stores as it cashes in on a home improvement boom.

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