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BBC Copy:
“Plans to expand riot-hit Salford shopping precinct"
A shopping centre in Greater Manchester which was badly damaged during riots could be expanded if plans are given the go-ahead. The owner of Salford Shopping City, Salford Estates, has applied to the local council to extend the centre. It is hoped the expansion would create 300 full and part time jobs.
Rioting broke out at the precinct on the afternoon of 9 August. Police officers were attacked and shops were set alight and looted. The violence and disorder then spread to Manchester city centre.
'Sports and fashion'
Salford Estates said it had submitted plans to Salford City Council to extend the shopping precinct with 13 new, double-height shop units and a new market hall. The plans require the closure of nearby Pendleton Way to traffic.
Debbie Illingworth on behalf of Salford Estates said: "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."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."
Thebusinessdesk.com
“New plans for Salford Shopping City"
THE owner of the Salford Shopping City complex which was damaged during last month's riots has submitted a plan to extend the centre.
Salford Estates said that it plans to add 13 new modern, double-height shop units to accommodate a broader range of retailers. It also plans to build a new market hall to replace the current market which has become isolated and is under-used by traders.
The company said that the expansion will help to create more than 300 new full and part-time jobs.
Salford Estates' plan follows a long-running battle with Salford Council and Tesco over a decision to grant planning approval to the supermarket giant to build a 120,000 sq ft, £45m superstore on a site next to Salford Shopping City just months after Salford Estates bought the site.
However, in recent months the firm has sought to work with the developers of the Tesco store to provide better links between the two schemes. Salford Estates' latest plan involves the closure of Pendleton Way to create a traffic-free pedestrian square which can also be used for community activities. Environmental improvements will also be made around the site.
Salford Estates spokeswoman Debbie Illingworth said: "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.
“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 firm expects its application to remodel the centre to be determined by Salford City Council in November.”
Salford Star
“SALFORD SHOPPING CENTRE GETS MAKEOVER"
As exclusively revealed by Salford Star last January, Salford Precinct is to be revamped, adding 13 new shop units, a new market and an estimated creation of 300 jobs. The planning application for the new Precinct, which was at the centre of the recent riots in Salford, has been submitted and is due to be decided in November.
Salford Estates, owners of Salford Shopping Centre, has submitted plans for a complete revamp of the Precinct which, it explains, will `deliver more shops', `improve customers' shopping experience' and `create 300 new full and part time jobs'.
A spokesperson for Salford Estates says that this month's riots have not deterred the company from going ahead with the regeneration…
"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" explains Debbie Illingworth on behalf of Salford Estates.
The idea is to extend the Precinct with 13 new double height shop units plus a new Market Hall designed with help from the Federation of Market Traders. The plans are dependent on the closure of Pendleton Way, the road which divides the current Precinct from the new Tesco being built. And Salford Estates states that in the road's place it will build a "traffic free pedestrian square that could be used for a variety of community activities".
"These changes will transform the shopping experience at the centre" adds Debbie Illingworth "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."
The plans for the new Precinct come after peace has broken out between Salford Estates, Salford Council and Tesco, following battles in court over land prices earlier this year. In January, the Salford Star exclusively revealed the new plans for Salford Precinct, plus confidential Council documents which showed that the option to close Pendleton Way was rejected in 2009 in a row over finance and costs.
The article also revealed that the whole Salford Precinct and Tesco scheme was originally envisaged to bring in a profit of £8million for Salford Council – but just a year later this had turned into a potential loss of over £1million. (Click here for full details) Salford Estates' planning application for the new Salford Shopping Centre will be put before Salford Council's Planning Panel in November.”
