A London shopping precinct, named as “Britain’s worst shopping district” by the BBC, is being redeveloped in order to encourage local consumers to spend within the area.
Although Leegate Shopping Centre in Lee, enjoyed popularity when it first opened in the 1960s, the recent recession and resulting change in consumer shopping habits have seen vacancy rates skyrocket.
Therefore, the £80 million redevelopment will place a higher emphasis on leisure and hospitality offerings, creating space for a gym, cafes and restaurants in the 20 units currently lying empty.
Senior development manager at St Modwen, Killian Morris, explains the reasoning behind the plans, which have now been finalised after a public consultation was first launched in 2012.
He says; “The trend has really moved away from carrying out shopping trips in small district centres.
“What we’re left with is something that’s simply too big – it’s got too many shops, too many empty shops and it needs a radical rethink.
“There’s a lot of spending power here, it’s just not coming into this shopping centre.”
The new-look Leegate Centre will be anchored by a large Asda supermarket, after the retailer won the bid from competitor Morrisons. Although there is already a Sainsbury’s store across the road, Mr Morris hopes that this will encourage more consumers to shop locally rather than travelling to nearby areas such as Charlton, Bromley and Lewisham for their weekly groceries.
In addition, the local authority is keen to promote local businesses within the new complex, hoping that small units facing on to the Burnt Ash Road will provide ideal accommodation for florists, dry cleaners, bike stores and key cutters. This, it believes, is the best way to attract larger national brands to the centre.
St Modwen is currently in discussions with a number of gym chains, which it hopes will encourage a great deal of interest in the available first floor unit facing on to the crossroads. It also plans to establish a child tuition centre in a neighbouring unit in order to capture the attention of the local community and raise footfall and dwelling times.
With a planning application due to be submitted later in the year, it can only be hoped that Britain’s “worst shopping district” will one day become a thriving retail destination.
