As shopping centre owners nationwide attempt to capitalise upon the gradually improving consumer mood, a wave of expansions for developments around the country are being announced. One of the most significant expansion deals agreed of late is the Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull, which will undergo a multi-million pound redevelopment as a means of effectively competing with regional rivals.
Under the current plans, the centre’s neighbouring property Orchard House will be demolished in order to create space for 25 new retail units. A number of restaurant units will also be created, extending the centre overall by 115,000 square feet – this will bring the total footprint of the centre to almost 800,000 square feet.
Although no official planning permission has yet been granted, the project took a step forward this week with the signing of a Development Agreement between centre owner Lend Lease and Solihull Borough Council.
Council leader Bob Sleigh says; “The signing of the Development Agreement with Lend Lease is another historic moment in the growth of Solihull.
“This next phase of Touchwood will underline the borough’s reputation as a thriving place in which to live, work, do business and shop.
“Touchwood is an unrivalled success and this next phase promises a very positive future for the centre and Solihull alike.”
According to the council, the upcoming project at Touchwood will ensure that Solihull will remain a popular destination for local consumers to visit, shop and spend leisure time. There have been concerns that the nearby Grand Central scheme in Birmingham will encourage consumers to travel into the city rather than spending in the local economy, making this scheme something of an essential should the smaller area wish to remain relevant in the West Midlands.
In total, Lend Lease expects the extension to allow for the creation of 400 permanent new jobs in the retail and leisure industries, along with a further 500 positions in the local construction industry during the redevelopment process. This will include roles to refurbish Orchard House’s neighbouring Church Hill House, which will become the new council premises following the demolition of its current location.
Lend Lease senior development manager, Alexandra Brown, insists that members of the local community will play a pivotal role in deciding the layout, offering and tenant mix of the new-look Touchwood shopping centre.
She says; “The signing of the Development Agreement with the council is a key step in turning our shared vision into a reality.
“Over the coming months, we will be developing our proposals with the council ahead of submitting an application next year.
“This process will include consultation with the community to ensure what is created reflects their aspirations for Solihull.”
Although Touchwood remains one of the most successful retail destinations in the West Midlands, with year on year overall sales rising by 4.2 per cent in September, this extension will ensure that the centre remains regionally competitive when it opens in spring 2018.
Do you think the extension will allow Solihull to compete with Birmingham as a retail destination, or will the bigger city triumph due to schemes such as Grand Central?
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