Cineworld to anchor Yate Riverside development at Yate Shopping Centre
Date Posted:09/09/2014
Cineworld is to anchor the new leisure-based development at Link Road, Yate – to be called Yate Riverside - which is now clear of all planning hurdles and ready to start.
Other leisure and retail operators are close to signing deals and these will be announced in the near future as and when leases are completed.
Andrew Lowrey, Yate Shopping Centre Manager, said: “It has long-been rumoured that Cineworld will be the anchor tenant. Now that we have cleared the planning process, and the period for any legal challenge has expired, we can start building works. Although some preparatory works have started, we don’t envisage major construction work starting until early next year.
“There is always a time lag after any planning permission is granted as typically operators hold back on committing until there is certainty about the development. We will be announcing the other high street names taking space over the next few months”.
The new development will include a six-screen multiplex cinema, seven restaurants/cafes and three retail units specifically aimed at national high street chains.
A spokesperson at Crestbridge, owners of Yate Shopping Centre, said that Yate Riverside would attract more national operators to the town and transform the town’s night-time economy to firmly put Yate onto the map.
“Having secured Cineworld and following the huge success of the recent retail development in the town centre we are talking to a number of national fashion chains and leading food brands about taking space in the new scheme, which offers retail-park scale and accessibility whilst remaining at the heart of the town.”
Jenny Lee, Property Acquisitions Manager at Cineworld said that the new Yate cinema would allow the company to expand its reach in the South West: "Yate’s growing population and the transformation of the town’s retail and leisure offer mean that this is a great new location for Cineworld and we are looking forward to opening next year.
“The Yate Riverside development will enable us provide more choice for our customers and meet high demand for modern leisure destinations across the region."
Local District Councillor, Councillor Ruth Davis, who has been fighting for a cinema in Yate for over 10 years, expressed her delight that things are now happening: “Many Shopping Centre owners have told me they will try to get a cinema but nothing has ever come of it. Today Crestbridge are delivering and I know that local councillors and residents are absolutely thrilled that things are moving forward.
“With the proposed expansion in housing, Yate needs to be a centre on its own and not reliant on Bristol and other shopping centres. Crestbridge promised us that high street names will come to Yate and we already have some, with others to follow. It is these shops that will draw in visitors to enable the smaller independent traders to succeed and make Yate a thriving centre.”
Local MP, Steve Webb, welcoming the news said:“I’m delighted that the plans for the cinema complex have taken another step forward. After years of campaigning we are nearing the finishing line, and I look forward to joining other local residents in seeing films locally, hopefully by the end of next year”.
As a result of the interest in the new cinema-led development, there has been an increased interest in the existing centre as Andrew Lowry explains: “The retail industry has reacted enthusiastically with some very significant enquiries from potential new operators looking to take space in the existing centre.
“As always when new tenants want to come to Yate Shopping Centre, we have to identify suitable units and that might include some juggling and changes but we are confident that we will be announcing exciting new tenants in the autumn.”
For further development news at Yate Shopping Centre see http://www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk/Centre-Information#a27
For press releases see http://www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk/Media-Centre
The Riverside letting brochure can be downloaded here
