The construction of the Arena shopping centre in Zagreb is set to resume after 10 month delay due to financial difficulties caused by recession.

Trigranit, the Hungarian construction company, has been granted a loan of EUR 150 million and will carry out the project with its Croatian partner Ingra, which has already built a sports centre near the shopping centre.

The Arena Centre project will cost a total of EUR 220 million. It will comprise of an ultra-modern shopping centre with a GLA of 62,000 m2 and will host over 200 retail outlets with a 11,000 m2 Ipercoop hypermarket and multifunctional 9 screen cinema.

In phase II an additional retail and office premise are planned along with entertainment content. Parking for the centre will be underground and on-grade, with plans for over 3,000 parking spaces.

The centre is expected to open by the end of 2010.