Westfield's £1.6bn retail gamble

Westfield London is situated in W12, between two main roads — the West Cross Route and Wood Lane Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

The site covers 17.4 hectares (43 acres), houses 1.5m square metres of shopping space and cost £1.6bn to build Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

High street retailers will sit alongside high-end brands including Mulberry and Louis Vuitton Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

The centre has an undulating glass roof Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

It will be Britain's third-largest retail complex, after Bluewater in Kent and the MetroCentre in Gateshead Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

The white struts supporting the roof have been designed to look like trees Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

Besides the 265 shops, there is also a food hall and other facilities such as a library Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

The exterior view of the centre Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian