Cascades Shopping Centre
Cascades Shopping Centre is an enclosed city-centre shopping mall in Portsmouth, Hampshire, serving local and regional shoppers with national chains, independent retailers and integrated parking.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cascades Shopping Centre is an enclosed shopping centre in the city centre of Portsmouth, on England’s South Coast. It was developed as a major modern retail destination for the city and opened in September 1989 after construction began in May 1987. The project was built on approximately 6.5 acres of central Portsmouth land previously occupied by Charlotte Street and Moores Square, an area associated with a regular street market. The redevelopment was intended to consolidate and modernise city-centre shopping, bringing a substantial concentration of national retailers into a purpose-built indoor environment. The original centre contained approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space and included a 600-vehicle multi-storey car park connected directly to the malls by lifts and stairs. Its principal anchor was British Home Stores, which occupied an approximately 80,000-square-foot unit. Existing city-centre businesses including C&A, Littlewoods and Marks & Spencer also expanded into the centre. A food court and a large naturally lit atrium were among the original design features, while the centre’s glass lifts became a notable part of its internal character. The construction contract was awarded to Taylor Woodrow Construction in 1987; contemporary descriptions placed the value of the contract at between £40 million and £50 million. Cascades underwent a substantial redevelopment of its ground and lower-ground floors during 2006 and 2007. The approximately £20 million project converted the food hall into additional shopping space, filled in the atrium to create about 2,500 square metres of extra retail area, and added 54 car-park spaces. The refurbished mall was formally opened on 29 May 2007 by Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Blake. The changes increased leasable retail capacity but also removed or altered several of the centre’s original features, including the food court, glass lifts and open atrium. The centre’s trading environment has been shaped by wider changes in Portsmouth’s retail geography. The demolition of the nearby Tricorn Centre and delays affecting redevelopment around that site created a large area of parking immediately outside Cascades. The closure of Woolworths left a large vacant unit for an extended period before Primark acquired it for an expansion of its store. These developments, together with changes in tenant demand, contributed to a shift away from the centre’s original mix of large department-store and food-court uses toward a combination of major value, fashion, sports and discount retailers alongside smaller independent businesses. Cascades has more than 60 shop units. Reported current or recent tenants include Sports Direct, Next, Primark, New Look and TK Maxx. Marks & Spencer, formerly one of the centre’s major tenants, closed its large store in 2018, with many employees transferring to the retailer’s food hall at Ocean Retail Park in Copnor. Over time, several prominent national names have departed and independent retailers have become more visible within the tenant mix. In 2021, the centre was placed on the market by owner RPMI Railpen with an asking price reported at £18 million. The sale offering reflected the importance of Cascades as a significant city-centre retail asset while also illustrating the changing investment and operating conditions facing enclosed shopping centres in the United Kingdom. No confirmed subsequent ownership change is established in the supplied reference material.
History
Cascades Shopping Centre was developed as a large enclosed retail complex in central Portsmouth during a period when British town centres were investing in covered malls, larger anchor stores and integrated parking. The site had previously been occupied by Charlotte Street and Moores Square, where a regular market operated. Portsmouth City Council had announced plans to relocate the market stalls by the end of February 1987, although redevelopment work was already under way by late April and the relocation had not yet been completed. Taylor Woodrow Construction won the building contract in 1987. Contemporary accounts gave differing estimates for the contract value, ranging from approximately £40 million to £50 million. Construction started in May 1987, and the centre opened in September 1989. Its original plan provided about 300,000 square feet of retail space across a site of roughly 6.5 acres. The complex was anchored by British Home Stores, whose approximately 80,000-square-foot store was complemented by expanded premises for C&A, Littlewoods and Marks & Spencer. A 600-space multi-storey car park was incorporated into the development, with lifts and stairs linking it directly to the shopping malls. The original centre also included a food court and an open atrium with substantial natural light. The centre was substantially altered in 2006 and 2007 through a redevelopment costing approximately £20 million. The food hall was converted into shopping floorspace, and the atrium was filled in to provide an additional 2,500 square metres of retail area. The project also added 54 car-park spaces. The refurbished areas were officially opened on 29 May 2007 by Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Blake. Although the work increased the amount of retail space, it removed several architectural and customer-facing features associated with the original scheme, including the food court, glass lifts and open atrium. Cascades’ later history reflects structural changes in the high-street and the Portsmouth retail market. The demolition of the Tricorn Centre and delays in redevelopment around that area resulted in a large surface car park immediately outside the centre. The closure of Woolworths created another challenge, leaving a large unit vacant for a considerable period. Primark subsequently acquired the unit to expand its presence, helping to return a major space to active retail use. At the same time, the changed layout and tenant requirements reduced the role of smaller shops and food outlets compared with the centre’s earlier configuration. The centre has more than 60 units and has gradually developed a tenant mix combining national chains with independent operators. Sports Direct, Next, Primark, New Look and TK Maxx have been identified among the shops operating inside the centre. Marks & Spencer, once one of its major tenants, closed its store in 2018 and transferred most of its staff to the chain’s Food Hall at Ocean Retail Park in Copnor. The departure of major department-style retailers and the arrival or expansion of value-oriented chains illustrate the centre’s adaptation to changing shopping patterns. RPMI Railpen was identified as the owner when Cascades was offered for sale in 2021. The reported asking price was £18 million. The supplied reference material does not establish whether the sale completed or whether ownership subsequently changed. Cascades therefore remains best described as an operating Portsmouth shopping centre with an ownership position after 2021 that requires confirmation.
- 2021
Centre offered for sale
[1]RPMI Railpen marketed Cascades Shopping Centre for sale with a reported asking price of £18 million.
- 2018
Marks & Spencer store closes
[1]Marks & Spencer closed its large Cascades store, transferring most staff to its Food Hall at Ocean Retail Park in Copnor.
- 2007
Refurbished mall officially opens
[1]The redevelopment was formally opened on 29 May 2007 by Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Blake.
- 2006
Major redevelopment begins
[1]A redevelopment of the ground and lower-ground floors began, with the food hall converted to retail space and the atrium redesigned.
- 1989
Shopping centre opens
[1]Cascades Shopping Centre opened in September 1989 with major anchor tenants, a food court and an integrated 600-vehicle multi-storey car park.
- 1987
Taylor Woodrow wins the construction contract
[1]Taylor Woodrow Construction was awarded the contract to build the new Portsmouth shopping centre, with contemporary estimates placing the project value between £40 million and £50 million.
- 1987
Construction begins
[1]Work on the Cascades development began in May 1987 on the former Charlotte Street and Moores Square site.
Products and positioning
A centrally located Portsmouth shopping destination combining national high-street and value retailers with independent shops, supported by integrated multi-storey parking.
Enclosed shopping centre · 1989
Cascades Shopping Centre
The centre’s core offering is an enclosed city-centre retail environment in Portsmouth. It provides more than 60 shop units and has hosted a changing mix of national high-street chains, value retailers and independent businesses. The complex is supported by a multi-storey car park linked directly to the malls, making it a combined retail and access destination rather than a collection of standalone stores.
Retail-support service · 1989
Multi-storey car park
The integrated car park was part of the centre’s original design and provided approximately 600 vehicle spaces. Direct connections to the shopping malls through lifts and stairs were intended to make the facility convenient for shoppers arriving by car. The 2006–2007 redevelopment added a further 54 spaces.
Brand decisions
2021
Offer the shopping centre for saleStrategyBackground
RPMI Railpen placed Cascades Shopping Centre on the market as a commercial property asset.
Action taken
The centre was offered for sale with a reported asking price of £18 million.
Aftermath
The supplied material does not confirm whether the sale completed or identify a subsequent owner.
Asking price. £18 million (2021)
2006
Redevelop the ground and lower-ground floorsStrategyBackground
The centre pursued a major redevelopment to increase retail capacity and update its internal configuration.
Action taken
The food hall was converted into shopping space, the open atrium was filled in to create about 2,500 square metres of additional retail area, and 54 parking spaces were added.
Aftermath
The refurbished mall opened in May 2007. The project expanded leasable space but removed the former food court, glass lifts and naturally lit atrium.
Redevelopment cost. Approximately £20 million (2006–2007)
Recent events
- 2021
Cascades Shopping Centre offered for sale[1]
Other
RPMI Railpen offered Cascades Shopping Centre for sale with an asking price reported at £18 million.
- 2018
Marks & Spencer closes its Cascades store[1]
Other
Marks & Spencer closed its large Cascades unit, with most existing staff transferred to the retailer’s Food Hall at Ocean Retail Park in Copnor.
- 2007
Cascades redevelopment completed[1]
Other
A major redevelopment of the ground and lower-ground floors was completed and formally opened on 29 May 2007, adding retail space and parking capacity while removing the former food court and atrium.
Sources2 sources
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