Superdry is the latest retailer to join intu’s multi-million pound redevelopment and extension project in Watford town centre.

The British lifestyle brand will open a 6,630 sq ft store in the 400,000 sq ft extension at intu Watford when it opens in 2018, which will be anchored by a 113,000 sq ft Debenhams store.

SEE ALSO: Hollywood Bowl signs up for multi-million pound shopping centre extension

Around two thirds of the extension is now let with Hollywood Bowl, Cineworld and a range of family friendly restaurants such as TGI Friday, Las Iguanas and Byron among leisure brands to have also signed up for space.

SEE ALSO: Impressive fly-through video shows how Watford will look after £180m transformation

Nick Tatum, global retail director of Superdry, said: “intu Watford’s demographic is the perfect fit for our brand and we’re looking forward to opening as part of the centre’s growing retail and leisure offer which will attract even more people from Watford and its surrounding areas.”

Watford Observer:

Charter Place before it was demolished

The long awaited Charter Place redevelopment, which is being undertaken by intu, started at the beginning of November 2015.

Once complete, the new building will house up to 16 shops, 10 restaurants and a nine-screen IMAX cinema.

A public square will also be created that will host an events programme, including street art and music shows.

The extension project is the largest to have happened at the shopping centre since Charter Place opened in 1976.

Watford Observer:

The site was acquired the site from Watford Borough Council in 2013, after 12 years of misfires.

Capital Shopping Centres was the first company to take up the project that year but was dismissed five years later after the council could not agree any of its plans.

SEE ALSO: Exclusive look of £180m development in Watford town centre

The next developer appointed, London & Regional, pulled out of the scheme in 2011, saying the project was no longer “a core business requirement.”

A third company, Henry Boot, was kicked off the project and paid more than £500,000 compensation in 2012 after Capital Shopping Centres - which rebranded itself to intu in 2013 - indicated it was interested in the scheme again.

In 2014, shops and Watford Market, which were located in Charter Place, were moved out to make way for the 1.4 million sq ft shopping and leisure centre.

The job was originally estimated at £100m when BAM was lined up as main contractor.

But BAM walked away from the deal after failing to agree a price under a two-stage tender process.

Intu confirmed in a trading update in April that the demolition of the outdated Charter Place was completed by Keltbray ahead of main construction by Laing O’Rourke.

New chains to the town so far include:

H&M

New Look

Debenhams

Restaurant chains: Thaikhun, TGI Friday, Cabana, Las Iguanas and Byron and YO! Sushi