"Architecturally bold" four storey building is due to launch in 2017

John Lewis has confirmed that it will open a flagship "anchor" store in Westfield London's planned extension, creating around 600 local jobs.

The partnership announced on Tuesday that it will be the anchor for a major expansion of the Shepherd's Bush shopping centre, opening a 230,000 sq ft, four-storey department store that will be its first in west London.

The store will employ around 600 people and will stock over 350,000 lines including fashion, homeware and technology.

John Lewis says its "architecturally bold" design will include an outdoor dining terrace with views over Television Centre, former home of the BBC, and the listed Dimco buildings.

The store will form the centrepiece of the expanded Westfield, to the north of the current centre, which will include 600,000 sq ft of new retail space alongside more than 1,500 homes, in all creating around 6,700 permanent jobs.

The store is expected to open in 2017, bringing a further boost to footfall at the shopping centre, which already attracts 27 million shoppers annually.

Michael Gutman, Westfield’s European managing director, says: "John Lewis is the most requested store at Westfield London and we are delighted that we will soon be able to deliver on this for our customers.

" The new store will be another huge attraction to Westfield London and will become an important centrepiece of the massive regeneration taking place in the White City Opportunity Area, with the creation of thousands of new homes and jobs."

Andy Street, managing director of John Lewis, says: “Our business in London has strengthened significantly over recent years. It is therefore right that we now move to open in Westfield London and bring our offer to customers in the west of the city."

The long expected announcement, which comes just two weeks after Westfield London celebrated the fith anniversary of its opening on October 30, 2008 has been welcomed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Council leader Nicholas Botterill says: " The arrival of John Lewis at Westfield is further proof that White City is becoming unmatched as a centre for shopping and leisure, and the creation of 600 jobs is fantastic news for local people."

November 13, 2013