The Trafford Centre has hit a milestone its bosses say is unheard of for a shopping centre of its size in the UK: every single retail unit is now let.

The giant mall has reached 100 per cent occupancy, with a tenant and an agreed lease in place for every unit.

Only two units on the main malls currently stand empty: the former Footasylum store, which moved to a bigger space earlier this year, and the former Music Store unit on Regent Crescent, which has reopened in a new unit directly opposite. Both have already been let.

Centre director Simon Layton told the Manchester Evening News: "We are fully let, there is a tenant in every single unit with lease agreed. It's unheard of in a centre of this size in the U.K."

Bosses say there is now a waiting list of retailers hoping for space to become available.

The milestone caps a run of strong growth. Footfall rose 8 per cent to 23.5 million visits in 2025, and the centre's valuation climbed above £1bn, according to its latest accounts.

Fashion has been a big driver this year, with new or bigger stores from brands including lululemon, Stradivarius and Garage among the centre's recent leasing deals.

The next big arrival is Japanese retailer Uniqlo, which is due to open a large flagship at the centre on 15 October, making Manchester the only city outside London with two Uniqlo stores.

The White Company is also among the brands named in the centre's 2026 pipeline, while a new Levi's store is on the way with its opening date still to be confirmed.

For shoppers, it means more to explore among the shops and Trafford Centre restaurants in the run-up to Christmas. For the wider region, it is a sign that big destination malls are still pulling in the crowds.

Sources: Trafford Centre, Place North West and the Manchester Evening News. This article was produced with the help of AI tools and checked against the sources above.