SILVERBURN owner Hammerson has secured £21.7 million of rental income from new lettings in the first nine months of its financial year.

The company, which also owns Union Square in Aberdeen as well as shopping centres such as the Bullring in Birmingham and Brent Cross in London said it is seeing improving trends in the UK although activity in its French sites is still subdued.

The new rental income in the period covering the nine months to September was said to be 37 per cent up in value on the same point in 2013 and ahead by 21 per cent in terms of floorspace.

The vacancy rate across the group was steady year-on-year at 3.3 per cent.

Hammerson said ­Silverburn had seen a number of restaurants, including Carluccio's and TGI Friday's, already ­opening at the £20 million leisure extension in the Pollok area of Glasgow.

The remainder of the extension, including more restaurants and a cinema, remains on course to be completed by spring next year. Hammerson also highlighted the fifth year of trading at Union Square stating there had been 71 million visitors since it opened in October 2009. Sales were said to have risen at five per cent annually while there has also been sustained footfall growth.

The Via Outlets business, which Hammerson has a 47 per cent share, continues to snap up European outlet shopping centres with ones in Amsterdam and Prague added in the period.