Yate Cinema receives positive feedback

The proposals for a new cinema to be built on land adjacent to the overflow car park off Link Road, Yate have received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Of the 300 comment forms returned after the recent public display, nearly 77% of respondents supported the concept with a further 16% supporting the idea of a cinema and new restaurants coming to Yate but with reservations about the need for new retail units.

Commenting on the feedback, Shopping Centre Manager Andrew Lowrey said: “We are obviously pleased that so many people recognise the benefits of extending the town centre with a new cinema, restaurants and retail units. One point to come out of the display was the comments received about the number of vacant retail units in the middle of the existing Centre. Customers want to know what is happening with them. As well as regular press releases and updates across our website and social media pages, we are now ensuring that we update their status with signs in the windows so that shoppers know what to expect and can follow developments.

“On the whole Yate Shopping Centre is bucking the national trend. Only last week the government announced that retail sales last month were down 1.3% year-on-year whilst the British Retail Consortium announced a noticeable increase in high street vacancies over recent months. At Yate this month alone we have seen an annual footfall increase of about 6% and plenty of new interest in some of the existing vacant units, several of which are now either under offer or close to being let. 

“The fact that Marks & Spencer Simply Food is opening next week and the recent opening of Sports Direct and Costa Coffee along with proposed cinema development have all helped raise the profile of the Shopping Centre. We are getting both national and independent retailers approaching us for space and looking at all options to reconfigure existing premises to meet their requirements. However, some retailers require new large premises to meet their trading format and the three units in the new cinema development will enable us to meet this need.

“It was also very apparent from speaking to people at the display that visitors are not aware they can keep up-to-date with latest developments on the Shopping Centre website. We learnt a lot over the two days and are reviewing how we can become more effective in telling everybody what’s happening.”

The feedback from the public display is now being analysed and will help the Shopping Centre owners, Dominion Corporate Trustees, finalise the plans ready for a planning application to be submitted next month. 

The consultation information leaflet can be downloaded here

The consulation display can be downloaded here

For further information about developments at Yate Shopping Centre see our development page.

For latest job vacancies see our vacancies page.