The new Westfield Mall which opens on Thursday will cover 43 acres of space and cost £1.7 billion ($2,65 billion) to build. As the Telegraph reports the mall will have 265 shops, a 14-screen movie theater, 50 restaurants, a gym, spa, a library and 4,500 parking spaces.

For the luxury-minded shopper the mall has a concierge team of 60 who speak 14 languages total. Valet parking is available as well as handsfree shopping and chauffeur service.

Although the immediate economic forecast is bleak, Westfield’s executives remain cautiously optimistic. Keith Mabbett is senior leasing executive at Westfield, and has been responsible for getting the retailers into the centre.

“We’ve been sounding out the retail market for six years, seeing what they need. And there is a need for this centre,” he said at Westfield’s site office overlooking the development.

The centre is almost 100pc let. Only 11 units remain unleased and it is predicted that 25 million people will visit the mall each year. It will be the largest in-town shopping and leisure destination in Europe.

While the western world wonders how to brave recession fears, the supersize shopping center is confident to lure its customers by its sheer size, lots of bling – and even some green credentials.

Source : telegraph