by Duncan Lamb
Rush & Tompkins and the Liverpool-based Walton Commercial Group are planning a 1m-sq ft shopping scheme at Netherton, Bootle on Merseyside.
Although R&T would confirm only that they were “in negotiation” with WCG, it is believed that the partners are planning the redevelopment of a 60-acre site at the junction of the M57 and M58. An announcement will be made on June 9 as to what is intended for the site and designs are being prepared by Brian Clouston & Partners.
Rush & Tompkins have gained most of their shopping centre experience from the Gateshead Metro Centre, which they built for developers Cameron Hall.
After forging this working relationship, the partners were appointed developers for the Sandwell Mall scheme in the West Midlands. However, this project was abandoned by Cameron Hall and R&T after a disagreement with the council over British Coal’s proposals for open-cast mining on the site prior to redevelopment.
Formal negotiations with Sefton council on the Bootle project have not yet started, as the authority has commissioned impact reports on the effect of such a scheme.
