Richmond Centre
A multi-level shopping and office complex in the historic city centre of Derry, Northern Ireland.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Richmond Centre is a multi-level commercial centre in central Derry, Northern Ireland. Completed in 1984 within the historic city walls, it was one of the city’s first major inner-city regeneration projects after the beginning of the Troubles. The development was intended to stimulate economic activity in the city centre and create more than 300 jobs. It occupies approximately 120,000 square feet, or about 11,000 square metres, and was designed around the steep urban topography of the site. Its split-level arrangement reflects the difficult terrain and the centre’s position alongside Shipquay Street, Newmarket Street, Bank Place and other historic streets. The centre opened on 14 November 1984 after more than a decade of planning. Its original retail configuration included Boots and Dunnes Stores as the two principal larger occupiers, together with 38 smaller units. Dunnes Stores was the original anchor retailer, but announced the closure of its Richmond Centre branch in January 2001. The unit was subsequently occupied by New Look, which became the principal retail anchor. The complex also incorporated Richmond Chambers, approximately 43,000 square feet of office accommodation above the shopping floors. These offices have been used by public-sector bodies, including the Northern Ireland Civil Service, the Housing Executive, the Labour Relations Agency and representatives of Derry City and Strabane District Council, alongside local professional and commercial organisations. Richmond Centre’s ownership has changed several times. Derry City Council sold the development to a private developer in 1987, while the Dunnes Stores unit had been sold separately two years earlier. The property was acquired by UK property group IMPF in 1996 and sold to a private-investor consortium in 1999. After owner WG Mitchell entered administration in 2009, the centre was marketed by administrators and purchased by West Register, an asset-management arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland, in 2010. Vixcroft acquired it in 2015 and began a refurbishment programme in 2017, improving lighting, common areas and entrances. By 2018, the centre was reported to be fully occupied for the first time in its history. The centre faced substantial pressure during the 2000s and 2010s from the nearby Foyleside Shopping Centre, which is much larger and lies approximately 50 metres away. The recession and the closure of several national chains contributed to a significant fall in occupancy. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these pressures, with further departures including Argos, Peacocks and Jack & Jones. In 2020, Sports Direct and GAME announced plans to relocate from Richmond Centre after Frasers Group acquired the former Debenhams anchor building at Foyleside. The remaining Level 2 retail activity subsequently contracted sharply, and Shoe Zone closed in 2022. Martin Property Group acquired the centre for £18 million in December 2021 and announced plans to revitalise the property, including a substantial renovation of its 1980s façade. By December 2024, the former Sports Direct space had been adapted for Bonkers, a children’s play venue. In 2025, Martin Property Group submitted a multi-million-pound planning application concerning the east-facing façade along Bank Place and Newmarket Street. The centre also announced prospective new Level 1 occupiers, including Tesco Express in the former Argos unit and Søstrene Grene in the former Soho space. Richmond Centre continues to operate as a mixed retail, leisure and office destination, although its future depends on refurbishment, tenant reconfiguration and its ability to differentiate itself from the adjacent Foyleside complex.
History
Richmond Centre opened on 14 November 1984 after more than ten years of planning. It was developed as a government-supported regeneration project intended to revive Derry’s inner city during a period of severe political and economic difficulty. The site lies within the historic walled city and on a sharply sloping urban street. Rather than use a conventional single-level plan, the architects adopted a split-level arrangement that linked several streets and created a central atrium. A large mural by Tim Webster was once a prominent feature of that atrium. The original scheme contained two major retail units occupied by Boots and Dunnes Stores, together with 38 smaller shops. The project cost £10 million and was credited with creating more than 300 jobs. In 1987, Derry City Council sold the centre to a private developer for £4 million. The principal Dunnes Stores unit had already been sold directly to the retailer in 1985. Because the centre had been subject to stringent planning controls and a lengthy approval process, its design was considered dated only a few years after opening; the new owner therefore spent a further £800,000 on improvements. IMPF purchased the city-centre development for £15.75 million in 1996. After the opening of the much larger Foyleside Shopping Centre nearby, IMPF invested approximately £1.25 million in a facelift intended to improve the property’s appeal and attract major occupiers. In June 1999, the centre was sold again, this time for £22 million to a consortium of private UK investors. Dunnes Stores announced in January 2001 that it would close its branch. New Look took over the unit the following year and became the complex’s principal fashion anchor. The centre experienced further changes during the financial crisis. WG Mitchell, its owner, entered administration in 2009. Ernst & Young marketed the property with a guide price of £26 million, and West Register acquired it in May 2010 for £24 million. During the early 2010s, occupancy deteriorated as several retailers departed, including Miss Selfridge, Exhibit, Peacocks, Internacionale, Dorothy Perkins, Yankee Candle, Argos and JJB Sports. Management attributed the weakness to the recession and competition from Foyleside, which is approximately 50 metres away and offers considerably more retail space. Vixcroft bought Richmond Centre in 2015 for a reported £20 million. A refurbishment began in 2017, focusing on lighting, mall finishes and the entrances. The second phase, including modernisation of the Shipquay Street entrance, was completed in March 2018. New occupiers such as Clockwork Orange, Yours Clothing and Warren James joined the tenant mix, and the centre was reported to have reached full occupancy during 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic caused another contraction. Argos, Peacocks and Jack & Jones were among the occupiers to close, while Frasers Group announced in December 2020 that Sports Direct and GAME would relocate to the former Debenhams premises at Foyleside. Shoe Zone, described as the final tenant on Level 2, closed in 2022, leaving most of that floor inaccessible except for limited facilities. Martin Property Group acquired the property in December 2021 for £18 million and proposed a new phase of investment. Bonkers opened in the former Sports Direct unit in 2024. In 2025, the owner submitted plans for extensive façade refurbishment and announced potential new tenants including Tesco Express and Søstrene Grene. The complex remains a mixed-use property with retail and leisure space below Richmond Chambers office accommodation.
- 2025
Façade renewal plans submitted
[1]The owner submitted a multi-million-pound application for refurbishment of the east-facing façade.
- 2024
Bonkers opens
[1]A children’s play area opened on Level 2 in the former Sports Direct space.
- 2021
Martin Property Group acquisition
[1]Martin Property Group acquired the centre for £18 million and proposed a further revitalisation programme.
- 2018
Reported return to full occupancy
[1]Following refurbishment and new lettings, the centre was reported to be fully occupied.
- 2017
Refurbishment begins
[1]Work began on lighting, internal mall areas and entrances.
- 2015
Vixcroft acquisition
[1]Vixcroft purchased the centre and announced an investment-led ownership approach.
- 2010
West Register acquisition
[1]West Register bought the centre for £24 million, below the £26 million guide price.
- 2009
Owner enters administration
[1]WG Mitchell entered administration and the property was placed on the market.
- 2001
Dunnes Stores announces closure
[1]The original anchor announced its departure; New Look later occupied the unit.
- 1996
IMPF acquisition and facelift
[1]IMPF acquired the development and later funded improvements intended to strengthen the centre after the opening of Foyleside.
Products and positioning
A centrally located, multi-level urban shopping centre serving Derry, combining high-street retail, food and beverage, leisure uses and upper-floor office accommodation. Its principal competitive challenge is the nearby and substantially larger Foyleside Shopping Centre.
Fashion, footwear and general retail · 1984
Retail units
The centre provides a range of leased high-street retail units. Reported occupiers have included New Look, JD Sports, Life Style Sports, Bonmarché, Soho, The Works, Vodafone and Warren James. The tenant mix has changed repeatedly as national chains have entered, relocated or closed.
Restaurants and cafés · 1984
Food and beverage units
Food and drink provision has included Nando's, Starbucks and Caffè Nero, alongside other cafés and smaller operators. These uses support the centre’s role as a city-centre destination rather than a purely transactional shopping facility.
Office accommodation · 1984
Richmond Chambers
Richmond Chambers comprises approximately 43,000 square feet of office space on the upper floors of the complex. It has accommodated public-sector bodies, local government representatives, the Housing Executive, the Labour Relations Agency, the Derry Chamber of Commerce and independent businesses.
Children’s leisure · 2024
Bonkers
Bonkers is a children’s play venue opened in December 2024 in the former Sports Direct premises on Level 2. Its arrival represents an attempt to introduce leisure use into a floor affected by retail vacancies and tenant departures.
Brand decisions
2025
Façade renewal and tenant reconfigurationStrategyBackground
The owner sought to modernise the ageing exterior and replace tenants lost during the centre’s retail contraction.
Action taken
Martin Property Group submitted a planning application for the east-facing façade and announced Tesco Express and Søstrene Grene as prospective Level 1 occupiers.
Aftermath
The proposals indicate a continued shift toward physical renewal and mixed retail, leisure and service uses.
2021
Martin Property Group acquisition and revitalisation planM&ABackground
The centre had suffered from pandemic-related closures, vacant space and competition from Foyleside.
Action taken
Martin Property Group acquired the property and proposed investment including renovation of the 1980s façade and efforts to attract new occupiers.
Aftermath
Subsequent changes included the opening of Bonkers and plans for further façade work and tenant replacement.
Acquisition price. £18 million (December 2021)
2020
Relocation of Sports Direct and GAMEStrategyBackground
Frasers Group acquired the former Debenhams anchor building at nearby Foyleside.
Action taken
Sports Direct and GAME announced that their Richmond Centre outlets would relocate to the larger nearby complex.
Aftermath
The departure contributed to the contraction of Level 2’s retail offer, which later became largely closed to public retail traffic.
2017
Vixcroft refurbishment programmeStrategyBackground
The centre faced competition from the nearby Foyleside Shopping Centre and had experienced tenant turnover.
Action taken
Vixcroft upgraded lighting, common mall areas and entrances, with a second phase focused on the Shipquay Street entrance.
Aftermath
The work was completed in phases through March 2018 and was followed by new lettings and reported full occupancy.
1984
Split-level inner-city developmentStrategyBackground
The centre was built on a steep site within Derry’s historic core, where a conventional flat shopping layout was impractical.
Action taken
Developers used a split-level plan linking several surrounding streets and incorporating retail and office floors.
Aftermath
The arrangement enabled a substantial commercial complex in a constrained historic location, although the design later required upgrades.
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