Works to start on shopping centre changes
Date Posted:17/06/2013
Building work starts shortly on major changes in Yate Shopping Centre to accommodate potential new tenants.
Starting in the last week of June, the four vacant units in North Parade will be converted to a single large unit which has attracted the attention of three potential operators. The adjoining corner unit is already taken by Hotcha Chinese restaurant
Work also starts in July on converting the former Spirals Nightclub in East Walk into a new 24 hour/7 day gym – Anytime Fitness – scheduled to open in the autumn. One feature of this conversion will be the windows in the first floor link over East Walk allowing users views down towards the new retail units. There will also be new centre and tenant signage.
Two new tenants have recently extended their leases among a flurry of activity in recent weeks. New Look has extended its lease on the premises in East Walk for a further 10 years and Millets has opted to extend its lease in the existing unit in West Walk.
Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “It’s always good news when existing tenants decide to extend their leases but we are also looking at how we can maximise the use of currently vacant units to attract new tenants.
“We have a lot of interest from potential operators at the moment and are juggling things around to meet their needs. In North Parade, hoardings will be erected in the next couple of weeks so that we can knock the walls through to create a larger frontage which is the requirement of all three interested parties.
“These are exciting times and the Retailers Event last week demonstrated to us that we are on the right path. There was a lot of interest from our guests and we now have to look at how we can meet their requirements.
“We already have several of the current vacant units in the final stages of negotiation and I am confident that further new contracts will come as a result of our latest push”.
