The scheme's anchor attraction will again be an indoor ski facility featuring 1,500 tons of real snow. Inn addition the 360,000-sf scheme will feature indoor climbing walls, bowling alley, multiplex cinema, night club, lifestyle retailers, café bars and restaurants. Completion is scheduled for September 2003.

Pre-lettings have been agreed on 67% of the total floor area. Leisure occupiers will include Cineworld, JD Wetherspoon, Ask, Nando's and Tootsies. Letting agents FPDSavills and Briant Champion Long are quoting around £25 ($38) per sf for the remaining catering opportunities. And a number of retailers already represented at Milton Keynes have reserved units in the new scheme, including Ellis Brigham in 10,250 sf; Legends Surf Shops in 10,000 sf and Silvertrek in 4,500 sf. Rents of between £17 ($26) and £20 ($30) per sf have been achieved.

Xscape CEO P-Y Gerbeau said: "Xscape in Castleford, Leeds will build on the successful formula of Milton Keynes where 5 million visitors per annum enjoy the Xscape experience. Xscape, Castleford will create an outstanding entertainment destination for Yorkshire and the surrounding areas."

Planning consent has already been granted for a third UK Xscape destination at Braehead, near Glasgow which will be developed jointly with Capital Shopping Centres. Construction is expected to start on site in early 2003.

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