The Carter Group has announced plans to expand The Crossing fashion retail stage in the Christchurch CBD to 170 Cashel Street, the site occupied by the Holiday Inn prior to Canterbury’s February 2011 earthquake.

Compared to The Crossing, the new development’s footprint will be about a quarter of the size. It will offer over 2,000sqm of retail space with sites ranging from 70sqm to 400sqm, and have space for 12 shops.

“The extension into 170 Cashel Street will consolidate The Crossing’s position as the heart of retail in the central city and create a truly outstanding precinct for Christchurch residents,” said Philip Carter, managing director, Carter Group.

According to Savills retail leasing agent, Ryan Geddes, the new development will include a piazza-style public area in front of the building, extending the existing outdoor space bordered by the Grand Central building, The Crossing and the ANZ Centre.

“Retailers will continue to cluster around this area and people are already congregating here,” Geddes said. “It’s a great spot to sit in the sun and have a coffee, watch the world go by and enjoy the eclectic nature of the new and renovated buildings in The Crossing.”

Carter announced additional local and international retailers will continue to open progressively at The Crossing during the next few months.

“Since the opening of The Crossing we have been fielding enquiries from national and international retailers who are keen to come here,” said Jesse Paenga, retail leasing agent at Savills.

“This week we took three international retailers to The Crossing to show them the transformation that has taken place in the past few months. They were blown away by what they saw. These retailers are just a few of many who were not really interested in coming to Christchurch post-earthquake, but are now seriously looking at spaces in the new development at 170 Cashel St.”