PLANS to secure a new department store in Chester’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre have been abandoned.
Centre owner Bridge Hall Holdings gained planning consent for a 3,260 sq m unit to replace all the units in Paddock Row with a Beales department store.
Paddock Row – described as ‘the weakest link of the Grosvenor Centre’ due to the high turnover of units – would have been replaced with a two-storey scheme.
Centre manager Julie Webb said: “While no deal has been concluded with Beales, we are extremely pleased to have been granted planning consent for new retail space in the shopping centre’s Paddock Row area and this is already attracting a high level of interest. I consider the redevelopment of this area to be very beneficial to the city.”
Mrs Webb has exclusively revealed Chester is to get a Tesco Express in vacant units owned by the centre under the Windsor House office building in Pepper Street after legal documents were exchanged. It will take over units previously occupied by BSM, Moben Kitchens and Ripples.
Recent new stores in the centre include Jack n Jones and Patisserie Valerie. Topshop is refurbishing its store and Jigsaw is fitting out a new more prominent unit at the entrance to St Michael’s Row.
Against a national decline, the centre saw a footfall increase of 1.2% last year and the recently refurbished car park saw increased usage in 2011 of almost 3%.
Mrs Webb added: “Our dedication to securing a unique blend of boutique and high street retailers and our recent investment in the shopping experience has strengthened not only the shopping centre’s offer but also underlined the city as a shopping destination of choice.”
