Citrus Group has outlined plans for a £60m project to redevelop a shopping centre in Durham in a public consultation set to launch next week.
The investor-developer’s plans for Prince Bishops Place include a new 130-bedroom hotel and leisure attractions.
The upper floors of the centre, which Citrus said were “largely empty”, would consist of around 300 student accommodation spaces. The developer will retain a 400-space multi-storey car park at the scheme.
Citrus said high vacancy rates and little demand from national multiple retailers at the shopping centre, which opened in 1998, mean it is “essential that the centre reinvents itself and offers other reasons to visit”.
The developer also intends to broaden the tenant line-up at the centre to include more local and independent retailers.
Under the plans, a mix of new, smaller retail spaces would be designed specifically to accommodate the needs of independent operators.
The plans involve demolishing some of the site, but most of the shopping centre’s existing below-mall infrastructure would be retained and reconfigured, providing some 70,000 sq ft of retail space.
Public realm changes would include new walkways, pedestrian seating and a public square.
James Taylor, regional director for Citrus Group, said: “We hope people across the city and wider region will recognise the opportunity our plans provide to reposition and reshape the future of Prince Bishops Place.”
Robert Dibden, associate director at Lichfields’ Newcastle office, which is advising Citrus, said: “This is an exciting regeneration project that will deliver new opportunities, jobs and economic prosperity. It would herald the transformation of an important part of Durham city centre, so we are extremely keen to hear the views of as many local people and stakeholders as possible before final plans are submitted.”
A digital consultation will be live online until 16 August. Drop-in events will be held on 19 July and 9 August.
To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@eg.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @EGPropertyNews
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