Centros Miller - Retail Development - Dumfries, Centros Miller To Work Up Dumfries Retail Scheme

Date: 30 Aug 2007

Urban regeneration specialist Centros Miller is to work with Dumfries & Galloway Council in developing proposals for a key site in Dumfries town centre, west Scotland.

The council, at a committee meeting last week (14 August), agreed to enter into a statement of intent with Centros Miller, paving the way for the developer and council to work together in progressing plans for the site.

The 3.7-acre (1.5 hectare) site is bounded by High Street/Queensberry Square, Whitesands and Friars Vennel, and currently supports a car park and a mixture of commercial uses. Proposals for the site are at a very early stage but it could accommodate a retail-led scheme of around 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m).

The council's strategy and action plan for Dumfries town centre 'Regenerating the Regional Capital 2004-14' identifies the Whitesands Area as the priority regeneration site. A retail development of up to 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) has been identified by the council as the driver for a scheme on this site, which is likely to include other mixed uses.

The statement of intent is for a period of 12 months, which would include a consultation period, with the earliest start on site likely to be 2010.

Tony Williams, development manager of Centros Miller, says: "We are looking forward to working with the council in progressing plans for this important site. We believe we have a major opportunity to improve the retail facilities in Dumfries and to stem the flow of expenditure to competing locations like Carlisle and Glasgow."

Councillor Bruce Hodgson, chair of the council's planning, housing and environment services committee, says: "This is a major step forward for the Whitesands priority regeneration area within Dumfries town centre and the council is delighted to be working with Centros Miller in helping us to take this key project forward. A lot of work has taken place to get us to this stage, and the public rightly want to see progress. I want to see the fullest possible consultation on the next steps, and I am determined to see an early conclusion to the overdue regeneration of Dumfries town centre."

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