The leading leisure and sports fashion retailer has taken a combination units 9 and 10 at the scheme on a new 10 year lease. The store brings JD Sport’s unique design to the centre, where it will sit alongside popular high street stores, including Next, River Island, Zara, H&M and White Stuff.

James Air, Group Acquisitions Manager, JD Sports Fashion: “JD are pleased to be relocating into larger premises within Canterbury to allow our loyal customers to benefit from a significantly improved product offer. Customers will love the look and feel of our premium new concept fit out”.

Spanning 600,000 sq ft Whitefriars Shopping Centre is the dominant retail destination in Canterbury, which fully integrates with the City Centre, and is anchored by Fenwick and M&S. The centre is owned by Canterbury City Council and managed by New River Retail.

MMX Retail are the joint leasing agents for Whitefriars Canterbury with Lunson Mitchenall.

Alex Peck , Associate Partner at MMX Retail, comments “JD’s relocation from High Street, further reinforces that Whitefriars is the primary retail destination in the City, with a footfall of approx. 13m people, JD are a very strong addition to our overall mix.”

Nick Symons, Partner at MMX Retail adds “We have been in discussion with the team at JD for several years as the expiry on their existing high street store came closer. The new store enables the business to provide a full showcase to their customers with a better configured store, but also benefits from enhanced operational efficiencies.”