Top brands shun White City mall

Bosses at the multi-million-pound retail park in White City are struggling to attract "luxury" brands away from central London.

The west London shopping centre, which is due to open in October, has secured Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer as tenants.

But insiders says the centre's separate designer zone, known as The Village, has failed to lure big names away from Bond Street and Sloane Street.

It was announced last year that Louis Vuitton had signed a deal to open a store at the centre, but so far Australian developer Westfield has failed to enrol any other leading tenants.

One source said: "I don't think the site is right for a luxury brand - it's too close to Sloane Street, Knightsbridge and Bond Street. Why would the brands go there?"

Another person associated with the retail centre suggested Westfields may stagger the opening, with the main area first and the designer area later.

But a spokesman for Westfield said it was "making excellent progress" at leasing the other units and The Village was still scheduled to open along with the rest of the centre on 30 October.

The £1.6 billion mall will be the biggest retail site in Greater London.