FESTIVAL Place has shot up through the UK shopping mall rankings to make it into the top 10.

Grosvenor's £300million flagship shopping and leisure centre in Basingstoke has already been hailed by business leaders as a boost to the borough economy.

Now confirmation has come from the independent source of TW Research Associates and Churston Heard.

Festival Place's high score saw it enter the top 10 for the first time - a major feat for a centre that only opened its doors for business in October 2002 and started in 91st position.

And in June and July this year, the centre achieved record levels of visitors and won the title of "most improved shopping centre in the UK".

Researchers for the rankings measured the attractiveness of individual shopping malls with a points allocation for size, the tenant mix, type of scheme, weekly "foot-fall" and the available facilities.

The last year has seen an all-round increase in footfall and the amount of time and money spent by shoppers in the centre.

It is also drawing more people from Winchester, Andover and Newbury as it stakes its claim to being a regional shopping destination.

Research figures show the number of people visiting Festival Place's fashion and lifestyle-orientated retailers, such as French Connection, Gap, Oil & Vinegar and Mamas & Papas, has increased by 11 per cent to hit 6.79 million visits.

The upper level of Festival Place has recorded an increase of 5.5 per cent to reach 4.19 million.

Total footfall in Festival Place for the first six months of this year reached nearly 10 million, which meant it out-performed the UK as a whole, where there was a rise of just 0.4 per cent in June.

Retail sales at Festival Place are up 12 per cent overall, while the bars and restaurants have increased sales by 20 per cent and sales growth in the department stores has risen by an impressive 22 per cent.

Visitors now stay an average of one hour and 49 minutes, during which time the average spend is £51.50, compared with £47.30 last year.

Today, 73 per cent of people living in Andover consider Festival Place as their main shopping destination, and 98 per cent of Newbury residents who have visited rate the centre as good or very good.

The centre is also moving forward with nine new retailers and caterers.

Already open are the lifestyle clothing and accessory brand Animal and the sandwich bar Benjys.

On their way are Virgin Ware, T Mobile, Shear Beauty, Julian Graves, Caf Nero and the central London restaurant chain Wagamama.

National estate agents Mann & Co are also about to relocate their offices within Festival Place.

Jane Stewart, marketing manager for Festival Place, said: "We are delighted that Festival Place is trading so well and that it is so appealing to people living as far away as Winchester, Newbury and Andover.

"Our new retailers are significant additions and will further increase our attraction as a regional shopping centre."