Three big stores in talks over Shrewsbury move
Wednesday 10th November 2010, 6:30PM GMT.
THREE BIG high street names could be coming to Shrewsbury as part of multi-million pound plans to transform the town’s main shopping centres, bosses revealed today.
Shearer Property Group confirmed it was in talks with Primark, Debenhams and Bhs about opening huge new stores in the town.
The developers are also talking with Shropshire Council about refurbishing the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside shopping centres to attract the big names to tempt shoppers in.
Director Adam Markwell said: “Primark, Debenhams and Bhs are all keen to come to Shrewsbury when plans for the three centres are finalised. Following discussions with Shropshire Council we can then have conversations with them about their plans to come to the town.
“They are interested in the town and want to know whether we can provide the accommodation they need to come here.”
The new shops could also potentially create hundreds of jobs to boost the town’s economy, Mr Markwell added.
Gareth Proffitt, spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: “Shropshire Council is keen to work closely with the owners of Shrewsbury’s shopping centre as they look to develop the centres.
“Council officers have held an initial meeting with the owners to discuss their plans, and another meeting is due to be held later this month.
“The chief executive and leader of Shropshire Council are then due to meet with the centre owners in early December to identify opportunities for joint working and to agree the best way forward.”
Shearer Property Group also launched a leasing campaign at a the British Council of Shopping Centres conference held in Manchester last week.
By Emma Kasprzak
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[The new shops could also potentially create hundreds of jobs to boost the town’s economy, Mr Markwell added.]
Bound to be hundreds of jobs, 95% of which will be 12/16 hrs per week.
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Glad to hear!!
SOOOOO many young people, myself included, travel to Telford purely to find some affordable clothes at Primark.
When the Woolworths store closed, a facebook group was opened to try and get Primark there. I emailed Primark direct and was advised they had no intetion ofoepnign a store in Shrewsbury.
As I said, glad to hear they are though!
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This is great news for the town if true. What the council mustn’t do now is frighten them off with demands for massive contributions to litter picking, park & ride, policing, etc. I believe that’s what might a been a factor in scaring off the developer that was going to merge the centres a few years back.
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if the shopping centres want to attract more customers then they should buy the multi story car park or build one and offer free parking to shoppers
might then, just about.. have an advantage over telford shopping centre
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Fantastic i only travel to telford to go shopping in primark! Just what our town needs. Big thumbs up!!
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well its about time we had some DECENT shops .. i myself am a typical teenager where im a student so i need CHEAP clothes … this means i have to travel to telford to find them seeing as they have the dencent shops with low prices … yes ok shrewsbury does have newlook and h&m but even these type of stores seem to be becoming rather dear recently …. so do hurry up primark :) .. also it might give me a job opertunity … seeing as not many places in shrewsbury are giving out jobs atm x
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