St David's Reaches New Heights

St David's 2 has celebrated one of its most significant milestones to date with a topping out ceremony that marked reaching the highest point of construction.

It is now only a matter of months until the much anticipated development is complete and links with the existing St. David's Shopping Centre to transform Cardiff into one of the UK's top shopping destinations.

When St David's opens this autumn, Cardiff will welcome more than 100 new shops, 25 new cafes and restaurants and the luxury Hayes Apartments thanks to a £675m investment by St David's Partnership - a joint venture between Land Securities and Capital Shopping Centres.

At the topping out ceremony today (Tuesday, January 27) guests were invited to climb over 200 steps to the roof of the development for the ceremony where an engraved plaque was unveiled by Lord Mayor Councillor Kate Lloyd and cement was laid at roof level by Cardiff Council Leader Rodney Berman. Guests also got a first glimpse of the development's now complete spectacular glass centrepiece Grand Arcade which runs 205 metres in length from one end of the shopping centre to the other.

Andrew Dudley, Project Director said; 'A topping out ceremony is one of tradition in construction but with a project as significant as this, it is a chance to take a step back and appreciate how much has been achieved so far.

'It also gives us the opportunity to look forward to when St David's opens this autumn and Cardiff will become an international shopping destination. At over one million square foot, St David's already has a striking presence in Cardiff. It won't be long until work is complete and the construction team hand over the units to retailers who can then start to fit out.'

Construction workers from Bovis Lend Lease have been building St David's 2 for some two years. At any one time, there is up to 1,500 workers on site creating Wales' new shopping centre.

Nick Wylie of Bovis Lend Lease said: 'St David's 2 is a very special project and in addition to those working on site, many thousands both locally and nationally support the project in design offices and factories up and down the country. It is a testament to the collective team's hard work that we have got to this position and that commitment will continue over the final months to ensure that the opening in these difficult times is the success that Cardiff deserves. We are also very proud that our joint initiative with Job Centre Plus and Cardiff City Council, has already found jobs for more than 1,000 people'.

A host of world class brands have already been announced include John Lewis, Hugo Boss, Kurt Geiger, Radley, Reiss, T.M. Lewin, All Saints, Crabtree & Evelyn, Jamie Oliver's Italian and Links of London.

Cardiff Council leader, Councillor Rodney Berman, said: "St David's 2 is a landmark project and a quality and sustainable development that is going to transform the city centre. Today's topping out ceremony is significant, not only because it marks the highest point of the structure being reached but it gives a perspective as to just how dramatic and spectacular St David's 2 is going to be.

"So much work has gone into making St David's 2 a success and the Partnership should be justifiably proud of their achievements.

"St David's 2 is a hugely exciting and important development for the future of Cardiff and I am proud to be part of today's topping out ceremony.'

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