Plans submitted for £30 million Morpeth investment

Plans submitted for £30 million Morpeth investment

9 March 2006

Plans for a £30 million investment in Morpeth, Northumberland, which will deliver new retail units, redevelop the Back Riggs and Sanderson Arcade shopping centre and extend the Morrisons supermarket, have been submitted to Castle Morpeth Borough Council.

Centre owners Dransfield Properties and Ethel Austin Properties are leading the 180,000 sq ft development, which has been designed to create linked shopping trips from Morrisons through to the town centre.

Back Riggs and Sanderson Arcade will be refurbished in a traditional style inspired by the Burlington Arcade in London, and 24 shops created over 127,962 sq ft   Three existing car parks will be amalgamated into one centrally managed town centre car park with 326 spaces and a new long stay car park created with 107 spaces. 

The Morrisons supermarket will be extended from 53,151 sq ft to 77,501 sq ft with a six island filling station and carwash.  A new bus interchange will be constructed and  41,796 sq ft of office space will be developed.

The new units will attract national retailers to the town and reduce leakage to nearby centres such as Newcastle.  With Morpeth’s affluent catchment area, interest from retailers is already high - confirmed by Marks & Spencer’s recent announcement they are to open in the town, taking over the Iceland building adjoining the proposed new centre.

The subject of extensive consultation, the plans have been welcomed by local traders, residents and other stakeholder groups.

Drawn up in conjunction with urban design specialists and English Heritage, the scheme will retain historical features and introduce architecture in keeping with Morpeth’s character.  Public areas will be improved with new lighting and CCTV, and enhancements made to the public realm.

Mark Dransfield, Managing Director of Dransfield Properties, said: “I am delighted we have been able to submit an application so soon after becoming involved in the centre, and this is thanks to the involvement from the local community.  The plans have been shaped by local stakeholders and I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the community to deliver this scheme.”

For further information, contact:

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