All Systems go for Morpeth’s New Retail Development!

16 July 2008

Developers behind Morpeth’s exciting and long awaited new Sanderson Arcade scheme have announced they’ll be breaking the ground on the development this month in a special launch of the town centre scheme.

A phased project of work gets underway on July 21^st to give a fantastic £32 million facelift to the Sanderson’s Arcade and Back Riggs Shopping Centre bringing new retailers to the market town.

And to mark the exciting first step in this long awaited development in the town a launch event is due to take place on Thursday 24^th July to celebrate this ambitious new project which is set to bring a new commercial heart to Morpeth.

The first soil will be cut on the development followed by a balloon launch to mark the start of work on the site.

The project has been brought forward by Morpeth II, a joint venture between Yorkshire based market town specialists Dransfield Properties and Ethel Austin Properties Ltd.

The scheme will include an elegantly designed Edwardian style arcade as well as a piazza area and 85,000 sq ft of purpose built retail space. The existing Morrisons store is also being extended as part of the scheme.

The plans also include a brand new town centre bus interchange, 25,000 sq ft of office space and new car parking, a new long stay car park and petrol filling station has already been constructed and surrounding highways improvements made.

Marks and Spencer have been named as the anchor tenant for the scheme investing in a new 32,000 sq ft department store. Other major national retailers include O2, Starbucks and New Look.

Local companies The Jewellers Guild and Healthi Choice will also be taking key units on the high street frontage of the new development.

Mark Dransfield, Managing Director of Dransfield Properties Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be starting on our town centre development in Morpeth and looking forward to delivering a fantastic scheme in the town. We have worked closely with the local authority and local stakeholders to ensure we can bring forward a development that the whole town can be proud of.

“It’s a great reflection on the town and its potential that before we have even started work the development is 70 per let. This development has long been an aspiration of Castle Morpeth and the determination of the authority to ensure it goes ahead should be applauded.”

The development has been drawn up in conjunction with urban design specialists and English Heritage to retain historical features and ensure the new buildings are in keeping with Morpeth's character.

Cllr Peter Jackson, Chairman of Castle Morpeth, said: "As Leader of Castle Morpeth Borough Council I am delighted that this project is commencing. It has taken years of hard work from all partners to bring our plans to fruition, but this development marks a whole new age for Morpeth town, and exciting times ahead with real possibilities for the local economy."

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Date: Thursday July 24th

Time: 1:30am

Place: Site of new Sanderson Arcade development in Morpeth

Event: Official launch of new Sanderson Arcade development in Morpeth

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For further information and to confirm your attendance please contact Amanda Holmes or Jackie Helliwell on 01226 360644 or 07824 444017

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk