Telford Shopping Centre

Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Telford Shopping Centre


image_width = 168
caption = "From everyday to extra special."
location = Telford, Shropshire
flagicon|ENG England
coordinates = Coord|52.677032|-2.447161
opening_date = 1973
closing_date =
developer = Telford Development Corporation
manager = Ray Hoof
owner = Hark & Apollo cite web|url=http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3096441&c=1|title=Primark to triple in size at Telford|author=Property Week|accessdate=2008-03-11]
number_of_stores = 175 active
number_of_anchors = 5 (House of Fraser, M&S, Debenhams, BHS, ASDA) Shropshire Star (Telford edition), 11th of March, 2008. Abridged version available [http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/03/11/shops-to-open-late-six-days/ here]
cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7290557.stm|title=Stores want later opening hours|author=BBC Shropshire|accessdate=2008-03-11]
floor_area = 100,000 m²
(1,076,391 ft²) cite web|url=http://www.transformingtelford.co.uk/_library/download/www/Files/Transforming%20Telford.pdf|title=Telford - A Unique New Town|publisher=Transforming Telford|accessdate=2008-03-22]
floors = 1 [The main centre is on one level, Debenhams has 3 floors; House of Fraser, JJB, H&M and most of the stores in "New Row" have 2.]
parking = 5,065 spaces [cite web|url=http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-hof-Site/default/Link-Store?dummy=0&id=0469|title=Telford store details|author=House of Fraser|accessdate=2008-03-11]
website = [http://www.telfordshopping.co.uk telfordshopping.co.uk]

Telford Shopping Centre is a 50 acre indoor super-regional shopping centre in Telford, Shropshire, England. It is located in the geographical and economic centre of the new town, on land which was previously undeveloped. It is the largest shopping area in the ceremonial county of Shropshire [cite web|url=http://www.ticuk.com/Local%20Area.asp|title=The Local Area|Author=Telford International Centre|accessdate=2008-03-11] , being located roughly equidistant between Shrewsbury, the county town, and the West Midlands conurbation. With a floor area of 100,000 m², the centre is one of the largest in the country, and has an average footfall of 300,000 per week, equating to 15 million per annum. [cite web|url=http://telfordshopping.co.uk/the-round/improved-retail|title=The Round|author=Telford Shopping Centre|accessdate=2008-03-11] The Centre's catchment population is over 3 million people. [cite web|url=http://search.struttandparker.com/property/search/retail?submit_search=1|title=Commercial Propery Search|author=Strutt & Parker|accessdate=2008-03-16] The term Telford Town Centre is often used to refer to the shopping centre alone, but the town centre also encompasses the town park and surrounding areas of central Telford.

History

The shopping centre was opened in 1973 and was later expanded in 1981 to include extra shopping areas - this expansion was officially opened by HM The Queen in late October 1981. The centre only really came under larger development when it was purchased by the Universities Superannuation Scheme group in 1990. Thenceforth, a refurbishment program was undertaken, including the addition of large roof windows, which admitted more light into the centre. USS also created the Sherwood Square area and added the popular Frog Clock. cite web|url=http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/918/Telford_coming_of_age.html|title=Telford - Coming of Age|author=Shopping Centre News|accessdate=2008-03-11]

By 2001 the centre had 160 stores. By 2006, the centre had approximately 180. This growth can be attributed to the addition of an area known as the 'New Row', which opened in September 2004. This 14,00sqmcite web|url=http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3030464|title=Telford enters the 1 m sq ft club|author=Property Week|accessdate=2008-05-24] extension to the west end of the centre added the 7,400sqm [ name="pweek" /> anchor store Beatties, which was later renamed House of Fraser in August 2007. Since Beatties opened on the 5th of September 2003, car park use has increased on average by between 10 and 12%. Other notable stores were added to New Row at this time, including Zara, Costa Coffee and River Island. [cite web|url=http://www.telfordshopping.co.uk/browse-map?section=30|title=Interactive Map of New Row area|author=Telford Shopping Centre|accessdate=2008-03-11]

Current anchors of the centre include the new House of Fraser, large Debenhams, recently renovated Marks and Spencer and British Home Stores. Some sources also refer to ASDA as an anchor tenant, and it's probable that the Primark store will become one when its triple-sized extension opens. [ name="SStar110308"> Other notable stores include Boots, JJB, H&M, New Look and Next. Sherwood Square in Telford Shopping Centre is host to the "Telford Time Machine", a large animated feature clock spanning most of the width of the square. This square is rarely seen empty, and often plays host to small exhibitions, mini-markets, Santa's Grotto, a children's plastic "ice rink" and a variety of other events.

In 2005 the UCI Cinema was refurbished and rebranded as Odeon. This cinema is located to the west of the centre, across the underpass connecting House of Fraser to the vehicle parking areas.

In June 2007 USS sold the shopping centre to Hark Group and Apollo Real Estate (collectively Hark & Apollo) for £442 million.

In 2007 a £250m regeneration plan for the town centre was announced, which will include the pedestrianisation of the road surrounding the shopping centre, and the creation of new cafés, bars and shops which will lead to 1,750 new jobs. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7053156.stm|title=BBC Shropshire - Redevelopment scheme unveieled|accessdate=2007-10-19]

In 2006, the centre won the five-star 'Loo of the Year' award, due to the cleanliness and access to its toilet facilities. [cite web|url=http://www.loo.co.uk/winners/2006/fivestar.php4|title=2006 Loo of the Year awards|work=Loo.co.uk|accessdate=2008-05-30]

Expansion

An extension is planned for the Primark store, which would involve an extension equal to three times the current retail area of the store. The proposed development would increase the retail area of the centre by more than 50 percent, and lead to the creation of a pedestrianised walkway, 'The Round', which would circle the enlarged centre and provide better access to retail facilities. [Shropshire Star, 07 December 2007] The number of parking bays will increase to approximately 6,000 spaces, and new bus stops will be located around The Round walkway. There are also plans to move the Ice Rink into an extension of the centre, construct a new department store, and move ASDA supermarket outside the centre into a new building just outisde the circular walkway. [cite web|url=http://telfordshopping.co.uk/the-round/accessibility-and-parking|title=Accessibility and Parking - The Round|author=Telford Shopping Centre|accessdate=2008-04-15]

On the 11th of March, 2008 it was announced, as part of Hark & Apollo's plan to revitalise town centre trade, that the 6 anchor stores would stay open until 8pm, as opposed to 6pm. The

Impact

There has been some controversy amongst traders and other local people in other parts of Telford, such as Wellington, Oakengates, Madeley and Dawley, about the impact of the centre on local traders.

In a typical week, the mall sees around 300,000 visitors, rising to over half a million in the Christmas run-up. The centre is also notably busier at the weekends.

The centre also feasibly draws a significant amount of trade from Shrewsbury, with the centre only being approximately 25 minutes (approx. convert|15|mi|km) [cite web|url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Shrewsbury&daddr=Telford&sll=52.708174,-2.754321&sspn=0.379413,0.933838&ie=UTF8&ll=52.678073,-2.451453&spn=0.005932,0.014591&t=h&z=16&pw=2|title=Telford - Shrewsbury|work=Google Maps|accessdate=2008-05-24] drive up the A5/M54 motorway. Shrewsbury, being a historic town, has much more limited access to its two medium-sized shopping centres (Darwin and Pride Hill), and the car parking charges are much higher than in Telford. [cite web|url=http://www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/public/YourCouncilAtWork/Planning/PlanningPolicy/LocalDevelopmentFramework/evidencebase/retailcapacitystudy/retail%2Bcapacity%2Bexec%2Bsummary.htm|title=Retail Capacity Survey|author=Shrewsbury & Atcham council|accessdate=2008-03-16] Up until car parking charges were introduced in 2004, many residents of Shrewsbury drove to Telford to experience the free parking and wider range of stores, but this bonus has now been retracted.

Access

The area is best reached from the east via junction 5 of the M54 motorway and from the west via the A5 which leads onto the M54. There is also a railway station ("Telford Central") within walking distance, also with regular buses from the railway station via services 33, 44 & 55 operated by Arriva. Hourly bus services to the bus station at the centre run from Shrewsbury, with a half-hourly service from Stafford and Wolverhampton.

Car parking charges were introduced to the car parks surrounding the shopping centre in 2004. [cite web|url=http://www.telfordshopping.co.uk/parking|title=Car Parking|author=Telford Shopping Centre|accessdate=2008-03-11] The centre has 5 large car parks, providing approximately 4,000 parking spaces. It is estimated that almost 90% of shoppers to the centre arrive by car despite the introduction of parking charges.

See also

*Telford International Centre, a major conference/exhibition venue located nearby.
*Telford and Wrekin unitary authority headquarters are located adjacent to House of Fraser.
*Telford Town Park, a 1.8 km² recreational area.
*Darwin Shopping Centre, a smaller shopping centre located in nearby Shrewsbury

External links

* [http://www.handsonourpark.co.uk Campaign Group (HOOP) for the preservation of Telford Town Park]
* [http://www.cometotelford.co.uk Telford Development Agency]
* [http://www.usshq.co.uk Universities Superannuation Scheme]
* [http://www.telfordshopping.co.uk Telford Shopping Centre]
* [http://www.ticuk.com International Centre]
* [http://www.telfordtownpark.co.uk Telford Town Park]

References