The Mall (Luton)

infobox shopping mall|shopping_mall_name = The Mall (Luton)


image_width = 200px
caption = Mall logo
location = Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
coordinates = Coord|51|52|50|N|0|25|50|W|
opening_date = 1972
manager = Brian McFarland
owner = The Mall Company
developer =
architects =
building_costs =
number_of_stores = 128
number_of_anchors =
floor_area = convert|755000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
floors = 2
parking = 2,300 spaces,
website = [http://www.themall.co.uk/my-mall/Luton/index.aspx Luton Mall Website]

The Mall (Luton) is a large shopping centre in the centre of Luton, United Kingdom. It was formerly an Arndale Centre until it was purchased by The Mall Company in 2006.

History

Originally opened in 1972 as The Arndale Shopping Centre in Luton, the Mall purchased the site in January 2006. The Mall Luton is under going changes and new investment. The centre has 128 shop units occupying convert|755000|sqft|m2|abbr=on, and parking for 2,300 cars.

The area that would become the new shopping centre was cleared during the 1960s many notable buildings which had escaped the damage of World War II were subsequently demolished. Work started on the new shopping centre in the late 1960s and when it opened The Arndale Centre in Luton was the largest covered shopping centre in Europe, it was ousted from this position by the Manchester Arndale centre.

Anchor stores

Key stores located in and around the Mall shopping centre in Luton include:

*Argos
*Boots
*Debenhams
*Tesco Metro
*Wilkinsons
*Marks and Spencers
*PrimarkIn January 2008 it was announced that the Woolworths shop which had been in the Mall since 1973 would be closing. The shop is planned to closed in March 2008 when the lease expired. It is thought that Marks and Spencer, which currently have a smaller store within the mall, are to relocate there. [ [http://www.businessinluton.co.uk/news/woolies.htm Closure of Woolworths and speculation of Marks and Spencers move] ] Woolworths have also announced plans for 66 other shops in the UK to close, as well as possible closure of some 200 further units.

There are currently a significant number of empty units, or short term lets. Some of the national-chains have closed during 2007 and 2008, including Currys Digital, Woolworths, Burtons and Base. Independent retailers have also been closing, some blaming the perceived decline in the centre. [ [http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Zanart-shuts-its-doors-after.3225843.jp Article about closing Art Shop] ]

There are a total of 128 retailers.

Extension plans

t Georges Square

Following the completion of the redevelopment of St George's Square in Luton, The Mall Company has started a multi million scheme to remodel the St George's Square end of The Mall Arndale (formally the Arndale Shopping Centre).

The development will create 8,825 sq m (95,000 sq ft) of new retail space across 8 new retail units. Three levels of car parking at the top of the development will provide an increase of approximately 200 car parking spaces. On completion The Mall Arndale will total 77,199 sq m (831,000 sq ft).

The new six-storey building will have an entrance directly onto St George's Square, with escalators inside the building taking shoppers to the main mall level.

Ken Ford, Chief Executive of The Mall, said:

"Our proposals will provide enhanced retail units in order to improve the retail offer in the town. They will also improve The Mall Luton's relationship with the town - by providing bright, modern shop fronts and a landmark new entrance we will vastly improve the Mall's presence onto St George's Square and help create an attractive area for the people of Luton to shop, eat and relax."

TK Maxx has been announced as the new anchor tenant for the extension, [ [http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2418/TK_Maxx_signs_to_The_Mall_Luton.html TK Maxx confirmed in extension] ] with Argos also taking a unit. Completion of the St George's Square redevelopment is currently planned for autumn 2009.

The Northern Gateway area

In December 2007 a further planning application was submitted for a much larger extension to the Mall, [ [http://www.themall.co.uk/business/pr-12-Dec-2007-2140.aspx Announcement by The Mall of its plans] ] which will be a multi use development. As well as several much larger shopping units, housing and office space is planned. The site is between the Mall and Train station, and would see total redevelopment of Silver Street, Bute Street, one side of Cheapside and Part of Guildford Street.

Although much of the site is either car parking or vacant, two grade II listed buildings and several locally listed building would be demolished, including several 19th century hat factories for which the town was once famous. [ [http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Arndale-facelift-will-destroy-town39s.3744429.jp Luton Today article on proposed demolition] ] The plan has been criticised by English Heritage [ [http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3108826 English Heritage criticisms] ] and the Victorian Society who described the plans as "shocking". [http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/news/8986/hat_trick_of_destruction_planned_for_lutons_historic_heart.html Victorian Society] [ [http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3105539 Critism of scheme] ] Following the comments the Mall have stated that following discussions with council officers, “amendments to the application are being made”.

References

External links

* [http://www.themall.co.uk/my-mall/luton/index.aspx Luton Shopping Centre - The Mall]
* [http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/environment/planning/Arndale%20centre Planning documents lodged with Luton Council for the redevelopment]
* [http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/business-news/A-glass-act-for-Arndale.3062445.jp Luton Today article about further redevelopment plans on Bute Street]
* [http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2006/10/international-malls-arndale-luton.html Site with Photos from the 1970s]