Environment Secretary John Prescott has confirmed his consent for Capital Shopping Centres’ plans to redevelop the former ASDA store at the MetroCentre, Gateshead.
CSC’s plans a department store for Debenhams and 27 new shops at the scheme. Consent has also been granted for 1,100 new car parking spaces and public transport infrastructure improvements.
The total development comprises 34,500m2 (371,367 sq ft) of retail including the department store, a 1,100 space multi-storey car park, an integrated transport interchange with a new covered bus station, and improvements to the railway station and to local access roads.
“This is a welcome decision,” said John Abel, CSC’s property director. “We will be working with Gateshead council and the transport and railway companies to ensure that the benefits are available as soon as possible.”
CSC’s planned extension to the MetroCentre was called in by the DETR in April 1998. In November of the same year Prescott rejected proposals for factory outlet units on land next to the former ASDA store.
