Workington
Town Centre Redevelopment Progress
The
artwork for the centrepiece of the redevelopment, The Hub, was the subject of an
international competition won by architects McDowell Benedetti.
However, the project is now being delivered to an alternative
design by BASE structures, who have been appointed to deliver a
canopied outdoor performance space which will have the first
outdoor 3D sound system in the country and a bespoke ‘soundscape’
by Illustrious Company. The adjacent photo shows the canopy
for The Hub which was erected May 2008.
Further public realm works for Curwen Place at the bottom
of Ramsay Brow (outside HSBC bank) and the Portico at the West
end of Pow St (outside Clydesdale Bank) were completed in
June 2008 and included granite paving, bespoke bench seating,
stainless steel planter casings, and a column sculpture.
The public realm
works to create the 'Coastline' opened on Easter Monday, and the
'Lookout' was completed in mid summer. The Debenhams store opened
in August 2006 and many shops were open in time for Christmas
trading.
Improvements to the quality of the public realm aspects of the
project were made possible due to a grant from the North West
Regional Development Agency of £2.74m in conjunction with support
from the developers and Allerdale Borough Council.
For more information about each of the individual art
projects, including the car park grilles and toilets as well as The
Hub, Coast Line and Lookout please visit www.allerdale.gov.uk/publicart.
Building work on the town centre redevelopment is now complete.
There are still some new shops in the process of being fitted out
and due to open shortly.
Following the opening of the Debenhams store, there was a
significant increase in shoppers' parking requirements, and this
resulted in traffic congestion around the nearby short stay car
park in Udale St. However, the opening of the multi-storey car park
helped ease congestion, especially at weekends.
Local furniture store Akitts previously had a unit in the
precinct, but moved out in September 2004 to enable the
new works to progress. As part of the overall scheme, Thomas
Armstrong Construction have converted and extended the former Food
Weigh-house and Benetton shops into a single unit for Akitts, which
was the first of the new units in the town centre development, and
it opened in April 2005.
Locally based Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd are the main
contractors for the scheme. Preparatory works commenced in July
2004 with the demolition of the former Co-op superstore. Having
successfully signed agreements with future tenants to secure 60% of
the potential rental income in September 2004, S. Harrison
Developments Ltd. were in a position to fully commit to the scheme
and declare the development agreement unconditional.
Leading high street names that are operating in the development
include Debenhams, HMV, Deichmann Shoes, Ethel Austin and The Works
together with existing retailers such as Ladbrokes bookmakers, and
travel agents Thomas Cook. Stephen Rowe opticians, Birthdays,
Klick, Claires, JJB Sports and Bon Marche have shown confidence in
the scheme and taken new units as well. In addition, Greggs have
extended their presence in the town, taking a new unit
which is their third within Workington town centre. Other
firms that have opened include Bodycare, C & J Clark, Clinton
Cards, Mark One, Costa Coffee, H Samuel, Home
Bargains, Laura Ashley, New Look, MoD, Next, Nobles,
Poundland, River Island, Select, Shoe Express, The Link, Thorntons,
Timpsons, O2 and Vodafone.
The first of the retail units in the development was signed by
Debenhams, who were attracted by Harrison even before the town
centre deal was finalised. The scheme involves the total
transformation of the existing St John's Precinct and will create a
new vibrant centre which looks set to revitalise the town.
Who was
involved in the project?
S. Harrison Developments Ltd were the partner working
with Allerdale Borough Council and the Northwest Regional
Development Agency on the redevelopment of Workington town
centre.
Allerdale Borough Council members, NWRDA officials and
professional advisors, selected the firm from a shortlist of five
potential developers after a public consultation exercise and two
days of interviews.
Who Are S. Harrison Developments Ltd?
S. Harrison Developments Ltd are based in Malton, North
Yorkshire and have an established track record in the design,
development and construction of retail schemes. In 2002 the company
completed a £7 million town centre development in Wesley Square,
Goole, East Yorkshire, which was created in partnership with the
local council and has provided 80,000 sq. ft of retail space, 280
car parking spaces and a new town centre link road.
The redevelopment of Workington town centre is the largest
retail project Harrison has undertaken and they state: "the success
of the project is of crucial importance to our expansion programme.
As such, we would ensure that it received the commitment and
resources necessary to make it a success for all." For more
information on S. Harrison Developments Ltd. go to
http://www.s-harrison.co.uk/.
What were the objectives of the project?
- Re-establish the town as a major shopping destination
- Widen the town's retail catchment area
- Create a development which co-exists with and improves the
existing town centre
- Attract quality high-street retailers to the town
- Improve the environment of the town centre
- Act as a catalyst for future economic growth
- Provide opportunities for job creation
- Improve long term prosperity
"...There
is significant demand from retailers, who recognise the potential
of Workington, but are unable to acquire the size and configuration
of the unit they need..." - Statement from Harrison development
team
Allerdale Borough Council
