Warner Estate Holdings PLC - Retail Development - Greater Manchester, Sale, The Square
Date: 23 May 2001
Warner Estate Holdings PLC has unveiled a new name and a £5 million refurbishment and extension programme for its 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) former Six Acre Shopping Centre in Sale, Greater Manchester.
Plans for the centre, which has been rebranded as The Square, Sale, will see the creation of new, larger units as well as new entrances and upgraded public spaces. The proposed works will be phased over a 24-month period in order to minimise disruption. London-based practice APP Architects has been appointed to design the extension and enhancement.
Comments Richard Moore, Property Director at Warner Estate:
"Our intention is to expand and modernise The Square and firmly cement its place at the retail heart of Sale. The extension and enhancement will enable the centre to attract new retailers and improve the retail offer to the town by meeting the space needs of retailers we know have an interest in acquiring units. Sale is already a successful retail destination with a strong convenience shopping draw. Improvements to The Square will increase customer attraction and push the town further upwards in the retail hierarchy."
Warner Estate intends to create 4,800 sq m (51,667 sq ft) of new retail and leisure space along with a redesigned main entrance and better lit public porticos. The proposals also call for the introduction of new street furniture and fixtures to the public spaces.
Sale itself has seen considerable interest from retailers including Marks & Spencer which opened at the start of May 2001.
Phase I will involve demolishing existing vacant shop buildings on the corner of School Road and The Mall and replacing them with bespoke retail accommodation. The outdated entrance feature on School Road will also be replaced with a new contemporary glass and steel feature entrance.
Phase II works include combining and extending units in the currently under-utilised eastern end of centre's open air plaza to create larger units for two retail tenants and a leisure operator as well as a more intimate Town Square.
Access from the 400 space multi-storey car park will be improved with the creation of a new lift and stairwell direct from Town Square. Phase II works also involve the provision of space to relocate the centre's play centre operator Jemily's.
Enhancement works to the canopies that overhang the shop fronts will see them undergo re-cladding with a contemporary light-coloured, high quality finish, facing material. Fluorescent lighting presently in the canopy soffits will be replaced by more effective downlighting. Town Square will then be refurbished with new paved areas and a new steel and glass feature at the heart of the plaza that is designed to open up sight lines across the square.
Comments Diane Smith, Centre Manager of The Square, Sale:
"This is wonderful news for The Square and for Sale. Our aim is to revitalise The Square, giving retailers and shoppers yet further reasons to come to town. We plan to phase these works so that we ensure continuity of trade. The improvements at The Square open up considerable possibilities - both for job creation and providing a wider choice."
Letting agent for the centre is Stuart Lunn of DTZ Debenham Tie Leung. He comments:
"The development works will create unit 'footplates' of between 232 sq m (2,500 sq ft) and 1,765 sq m (19,000 sq ft) and can also allow us to provide up to 2,730 sq m (29,385 sq ft) in one unit for the right retailer. With M&S coming to Sale we are confident of the strength of the retail market and we expect our new units to meet current retail requirements for larger units."
Related website: Warner Estate Holdings PLC
Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Construction Newsletter » Submit news
