Europe's biggest shopping centre opens
- 00:01:40
- ITN
Europe's biggest shopping centre opens
Europe's biggest inner-city shopping complex has opened its doors. The Westfield Shopping Centre, in White City, west London, boasts more than 1.6 million sq ft of space - or around 30 football pitches. It cost £1.6 billion and has taken more than five years to build. At the opening ceremony, London Mayor Boris Johnson dismissed the idea that it was a bad time to build Westfield. He said: "I believe this shopping centre is a fantastic vote of confidence in London as the world's greatest venue for the buying and selling of goods and services. "That confidence will be repaid because this shopping centre will still be here when this recession and the next recession and the one after that have faded into memory." Mr Johnson added that he was looking forward to using the new facilities. He told shoppers: "As someone who has often attracted criticism for the cut of his suits, I'm about to join you." Among the 265 retail units are just about all of the UK's High Street giants, including Debenhams, Next, Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and Waitrose. There are also around 50 restaurants, as well as a multi-screen cinema. Bosses estimate 21 million people will visit the centre each year, with a cash register expected to ring every 30 seconds. There have been warnings from local politicians that the centre's popularity could cause gridlock in the White City and Shepherd's Bush area.
ITN | October 30, 2008
