According to the stated plans of developers, the scope of new construction in Moscow by the end of this year was supposed to be 633,6 thousand square meters, but these forecasts are obviously not destined to come true. Experts say that the reduction of the commissioning from the project can be from 10% to 30%.
Interesting that 57% of all new construction in Russia in 2020 falls on cities with a population of 100 to 500 thousand people. According to CBRE analysts, the amount of new shopping spaces announced by developers in regional cities is about 500 thousand square meters. In fact, according to the company's experts, 330 thousand square meters will be opened: the start of a number of large objects is announced for the end of the year, and therefore there is a possibility of further postponing the opening dates to 2021.
Trends for the coming years
Shopping centers that will be opened in the next couple of years, on the one side, will support the already emerging trends in development, the concept and architecture of shopping facilities, and on the other, they will themselves become trendsetters for the coming years. Therefore, it is important to see what new products they offer to the market and their customers.
At the same time, whether we want it or not, some trends will also be determined by the pandemic that has occurred. It has accelerated the development of a number of trends that appeared several years ago. Firstly, it is the population's dwindling purchasing power and the transition to more conscious consumption. Secondly, the growing role of the Internet and online commerce. And thirdly, the demand for shopping centers that combine wide opportunities for leisure and recreation with quality shopping.
Consumers have appreciated the benefits of online shopping, so they will come to shopping malls primarily for emotions and impressions. This has been talked about for a long time, but the pandemic forced even those who had denied this format to try online shopping, and many found it convenient. Therefore, in order to attract visitors, developers need to invest even more in creating beautiful and comfortable shopping and entertainment
centers with a variety of recreation areas, food courts and restaurants, flagships of leading fashion brands and innovative retail concepts.
An important advantage for the shopping and recreation center will be the presence of a park area with open-air cafes and restaurants, pedestrian paths, separate areas for the calm and active recreation, where everyone will find something up their alley. People have been at home this year, and such a stressful experience is not easy to forget — it will affect our habits for a long time. The opportunity to be outside and breathe fresh air has become highly valued. Developers who take into account this interest, including their impact on the urban environment and the surrounding landscape, receive additional points to reputation. Customers respect companies that do not cut down trees during construction or plant new ones when it comes to objects in the process of construction in the city.
It will also be relevant to pay more attention to food & beverage operators when forming a tenant mix, because cafes and restaurants are one of the main goals of visiting the shopping center. According to Mall Management Group analysts, 40% of shopping center visitors almost always go to a cafe or food court. At the same time, 4 out of 10 visitors in principle come to the shopping center with the aim of visiting cafes and restaurants. And also many visitors go to stores, even if their only goal is F&B.
The architecture of shopping centers will also change towards more open and airy spaces in which people will feel themselves comfortable and safe at the same time. Archaic "boxes" without natural light, with low ceilings and narrow galleries will finally lose their actuality. They already set at least a gaze, and in the post-pandemic reality, such shopping centers can be perceived by visitors as potentially dangerous.
SCRussia magazine has selected five projects in different regions of Russia that support all these trends and offers you to have a look at them in more detail.