Hammerson boss mad for Manchester as firm snaps up Arndale shopping centreThe Manchester Arndale is one of the UK's biggest shopping centresHammerson has snapped up a stake in one of the UK’s biggest shopping centres as the retail real estate firm expands its UK footprint. The FTSE 250 property company has paid £218m to acquire a 50 per cent stake in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre, marking the company’s first major external acquisition in over a decade. “Manchester Arndale sits at the heart of this exceptional city and has established itself as a premier retail destination, attracting more than 45 million visitors each year. Hammerson, which also owns the Brent Cross shopping centre in London, today reported five per cent growth in like-for-like rental income, with retail occupancy of 96 per cent, its highest in seven years. Last year, London’s Brent Cross shopping centre came under the full control of Hammerson after a £200m deal to buy out Aberdeen was confirmed.