Listed Thai property developer Sansiri is interested in diversifying further into retail and hospitality to support its core residential business.

Senior executive VP Uthai Uthaisangsuk says an expansion of its Sansiri retail business during the next three years would see retail facilities constructed in areas large enough to house at least three residential projects.

Sansiri has just opened its first community mall, Habito, in Bangkok to serve customers living in 5000 units at its six residential projects in the Sukhumvit area. Costing 400 million baht (US$11.4 million), the three-storey, Japanese-style mall has 32 retail tenants in businesses such as health and beauty, as well as restaurants. An area of 700 sqm has been set aside as a creative and design working space.

Habito will not only serve Sansiri residents but could become a community mall for others living within a few kilometres, says Uthai.

About 90 per cent of retail space in Habito has been booked, and Sansiri expects all tenants will be open by next month. About 5000 visitors a day are expected.

Sansiri also has hotels in Hua-Hin and Khao Yai, and has plots of land awaiting development in Chiang Mai and Phuket.