Salford Shopping Centre was badly damaged when rioters targeted the centre on 9 August. However the shopping centre
has not let that dampen their spirits as Salford Estates have announced plans to extend and reform the Salford commercial property.
The plans put forward to the council include extending the commercial property with an addition of 13 double-height shopping units and also to refurbish the current market hall to entice market traders to return and use the new facilities. Debbie Illingworth spokeswomen for Salford Estates expressed, “These changes will transform the shopping experience at the centre. Big brand retailers demand modern, double height shops and by providing these together with some smaller units and significantly improved space for the market traders we can expand the range of shops on offer in areas like sports and fashion.”
John Winder, from the Federation of Market Traders in Salford expressed his content for the new market hall plans, “Improving the market had been discussed for the last 10 years but Salford Estates had moved it forward after buying the centre last year. Salford needs a centre and this is the ideal opportunity to put it forward.”
The modifications at the commercial property will create around 300 full and part-time jobs, which will be a welcome boost as unemployment levels in the North West are one of the highest in the Country at 8.8 per cent. George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, “With what is going on in the world economy and with world markets, they (the figures) are not entirely unexpected. There is some good news that employment, those in work, is still going up. We are creating jobs in this economy as well as jobs being lost.”
During the riots, police officers were attacked whilst trying to defend the commercial property and many shops were looted and set on fire. But this hasn’t hindered the shopping centre’s plans as they want to put the antics behind them and move on, as Ms Illingworth said, “We are focused on moving forward from the recent events in and around Salford shopping centre and are wholly committed to the long-term future and prosperity of the centre and being part of its success.”
The plans have yet to be approved after a dispute between the council, Salford Estates and Tesco broke out after the council approved a new 120,000 sq ft superstore could be built next to Salford Shopping Centre. The centre feels the Tesco store will tempt customers away. However in recent months, the two companies have been trying to resolve their differences and are working on providing links between the two commercial property developments that will help them both.
The council will not make a decision regarding the shopping centre plans until November, but Councillor Gina Loveday expressed her delight, “It is really positive that it is going to create around 300 jobs for local people and that will really help with the regeneration of the area. It will be a real boost to the local economy.”
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