Big new plans for Ocean Terminal revealed

The owners of Ocean Terminal are going to transform the shopping centre into a premium outlet and leisure destination.

It will be renamed Porta and will have 407,000 square feet of shopping and leisure space with a new mix of brands. The 12 screen Vue Cinema will remain along with Wagamama, Zizzi, the 24 hour PureGym the Boardwalk skatepark and the soft play area.

Resolution Property say they want to capitalise on increasing visitor numbers. Certainly there are more cruise ships coming into the Forth and many visitors access Edinburgh through the Forth Ports terminal right next door. And our tourist numbers are reported to be on the rise, meaning that shopping and other tourism attractions have to be redeveloped to remain attractive.

By refocussing the offer to create a premium outlet centre with enhanced retail and leisure, Resolution Property say they will be able to capitalise on increasing visitor numbers and serve the city’s undersupply of a premium outlet complex. It is this destination appeal of a strong retail and leisure mix together with a unique price point that has now firmly positioned this sector as part of the mainstream shopping experience.

Due to open in Q3 2019, Porta will join Resolution Property’s successful retail outlet portfolio which currently includes Honfleur Normandy Outlet in France, Designer Outlet Soltau in Germany and Billund Designer Outlet, currently being redeveloped in Denmark. A long-term owner and operator of retail outlets across Europe, Resolution Property has been at the forefront of evolving this sector, creating offers that cannot be replicated online.

Shane Scott, partner at Resolution Property, said: “Delivering an outlet concept to the area is a unique and exciting opportunity and one that will transform the current offer. Ocean Terminal already enjoys good footfall and an impressive line-up of international brands, but we believe there is greater demand for a destination that provides experience as well as value. In fact, a number of our tenants have expressed demand for an outlet offer. Porta will build on this demand to establish the centre as one of Scotland’s leading outlet destinations.”

Ian Kitchen, partner at KLM Retail, said: “The key ingredients for a successful outlet experience are already present for Porta to capitalise on. The waterfront location, strong leisure and restaurant offer, the Royal Yacht Britannia, a new whiskey museum, as well as high tourism numbers are all important factors in curating a destination experience. The scheme will also benefit from being in an affluent catchment, only 15 minutes from Edinburgh city centre.”