>SOUTHGATE CONSTRUCTION HANDOVER AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Sir Robert McAlpine has handed over the SouthGate site to the SouthGate Partnership (Multi Development and Aviva Investments) two and a half months ahead of schedule.

Excellent progress on its construction means that SouthGate is now fully in the hands of its development partnership.

Phase Two of the development will still open in May of this year, with Phase Three following in September. Phase Three consists of the Debenhams anchor store and has also been handed to Debenhams, which is starting its fit out.

Jon Munce, development manager at Multi Development, commented: "This is a superb achievement from the project delivery team and reflects the professionalism and hard work of the entire team over the last three years. Having the rest of the site available to us ahead of schedule will bring significant benefits to the fitting out process for those retailers who sign up to Phase Two, and will also give us the ability to show the completed development to interested retailers."