SHOPPING centre intu Uxbridge contributed £122.9m million to the local economy last year, according to a new report by its owner, intu.

A total of 2,667 jobs were also supported by the centre, representing 1% per cent of all jobs in the area. 

intu owns many of the UK’s largest shopping centres, and the research by planning and development consultancy Lichfields measured each centre’s economic contribution. The aim was to reveal the value they bring to their communities. 

It found that, including intu’s own employees, people working in retail and in areas linked to running its centres, such as delivery and maintenance, intu supported a total of 132,950 jobs and contributed £4.8bn to the UK economy last year.

The number of people employed in retail at intu centres also grew by more than 4%, from 96,350 in 2017 to 100,652 in 2018.

The growth in jobs can partly be attributed to intu’s new developments and subsequent store openings, including Lidl and Decathlon in Uxbridge

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Matthew Roberts, intu chief executive, said: “Flagship centres, such as intu Uxbridge, play an important role in the lives of communities across the UK.

“Not only in terms of the jobs we create but also the taxes we generate, as well as the causes we support to improve the lives and wellbeing of people in our neighbourhoods.”

Last year, intu Uxbridge raised more than £6,000 for the HALO Children’s Foundation and continues to do so in 2019.

Laurie Taylor, its general manager, added: “We’re also helping to revitalise an area of green land in the town with funding and volunteering for our local Green Gym.

“Plus, we work closely with both Brunel University and Uxbridge College to back key educational projects, volunteering and social activities for students.”