Star date: 31st August 2011

SALFORD SHOPPING CENTRE GETS MAKEOVER

As exclusively revealed by Salford Star last January, Salford Precinct is to be revamped, adding 13 new shop units, a new market and an estimated creation of 300 jobs.

The planning application for the new Precinct, which was at the centre of the recent riots in Salford, has been submitted and is due to be decided in November.

Full story here…

Salford Estates, owners of Salford Shopping Centre, has submitted plans for a complete revamp of the Precinct which, it explains, will `deliver more shops',  `improve customers' shopping experience' and `create 300 new full and part time jobs'.

A spokesperson for Salford Estates says that this month's riots have not deterred the company from going ahead with the regeneration…

"We are focused on moving forward from the recent events in and around Salford Shopping Centre and are wholly committed to the long-term future and prosperity of the Centre and being part of its success" explains Debbie Illingworth on behalf of Salford Estates.

The idea is to extend the Precinct with 13 new double height shop units plus a new Market Hall designed with help from the Federation of Market Traders.

The plans are dependent on the closure of Pendleton Way, the road which divides the current Precinct from the new Tesco being built. And Salford Estates has declared that in the road's place it will build a "traffic free pedestrian square that could be used for a variety of community activities".

"These changes will transform the shopping experience at the centre" adds Debbie Illingworth "Big brand retailers demand modern, double height shops and by providing these together with some smaller units and significantly improved space for the market traders we can expand the range of shops on offer in areas like sports and fashion."

The plans for the new Precinct come after peace has broken out between Salford Estates, Salford Council and Tesco, following battles in court over land prices earlier this year.

In January, the Salford Star exclusively revealed the new plans for Salford Precinct, plus confidential Council documents which showed that the option to close Pendleton Way was rejected in 2009 in a row over finance and costs.

The article also revealed that the whole Salford Precinct and Tesco scheme was originally envisaged to bring in a profit of £8million for Salford Council – but just a year later this had turned into a potential loss of over £1million. (Click here for full details)

Salford Estates' planning application for the new Salford Shopping Centre will be put before Salford Council's Planning Panel in November.

To see the full application see www.salford.gov.uk and click on planning