Nike confirmed to open at Dorset shopping centre

Nike will be the newest, and arguably biggest, addition to Castlepoint after signing on for the 12,533 sq ft unit, which includes a mezzanine level, formerly occupied by GAP.

It is the third new lease secured in recent weeks, following the arrival of Holland Barrett and the upsizing of Mountain Warehouse to their largest UK store.

Due to open later this year, Nike Unite Castlepoint will sell a range of branded sports clothing and footwear.

Proposed store front for Nike at Castlepoint. (Image: Redwood)

A spokesperson from the joint venture owners of Castlepoint said: “We look forward to Nike’s arrival – arguably the most recognisable sports brand in the world, Nike is perfectly aligned to the potential we observed in Castlepoint as a major regional retailing destination.

“Occupier interest in Castlepoint remains high and we are now carefully curating the tenant mix and working alongside our brands to maximise the offer and better meet consumer demand.

“It is clear operators have confidence in the scheme and we’re looking forward to exploring further opportunities as we move through the 2023 and beyond.”

Castlepoint bosses also say a new asset management strategy is in place to maximise the retail park’s potential – with planning consents permitting further growth within the existing 36-acre footprint.

Unit at Castlepoint set to be occupied by a Nike store. (Image: Daily Echo)

The unit soon to be housed by Nike has been unoccupied since summer 2021 after the closure of GAP which closed all its UK stores and moved entirely online.

Nike currently has 30 stores open in England and the Bournemouth store will become the brand’s first to open in Dorset. At present, the nearest store is located in Portsmouth.

As reported, several planning applications have been submitted by Nike for signage at the site.

Nike has previously been approached to comment on.