As the economy continues to improve and consumers begin to spend on luxuries once more, the commercial property sector has seen a rise in leisure and retail developments and refurbishments.
Coventry’s Skydome leisure centre scheme is the latest to gain investment for an improvement programme, with owner Mansford pledging £2 million to refurbish the facility. The investment group acquired Skydome in 2011, and has since taken great steps to improve the 40 per cent vacancy rate by enlisting new tenants such as Harvester, Genting casinos and Carters Bar & Grill.
Under the plans, submitted this week to Coventry City Council, the Skydrome facility would benefit from a number of exterior and interior improvements designed to make the complex a more attractive prospect for local consumers. Mansford wishes to erect a number of canopies and walkways whilst also redeveloping the atrium to create a more spacious and visually pleasing area for visitors to enjoy.
EJ Hales property consultancy representative Phil Morris praised Mansford for its hard work over the past three years.
He says; “Skydome has come a very long way in less than three years.
“When Mansford acquired the complex in 2011, they needed to attract new occupiers and they have brought several new brands and outlets into Coventry city centre that hadn’t been seen here before.
“That has really helped to give the Skydome a new lease of life which is exactly what it needed.”
However, he also believes the improvement programme will go a long way in attracting new tenants and visitors to the leisure development – an essential step should the facility continue to be successful.
He continues; “It’s vitally important that we continue to invest and improve the Skydome to make sure it remains a destination that attracts visitors from across the city and beyond.
“These new plans are very much part of that.”
The council planning committee is presently discussing the proposed changes to the centre, and is expected to deliver its verdict later this month. Should Mansford be given the green light to proceed, the firm has hinted that redevelopment works could begin as soon as next month.
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