Choice for The Malls shopping centre unveiled

The residents, shoppers and visitors of Basingstoke have voted and now new plans for improving The Malls shopping centre into a modern and bright shopping centre will be unveiled by the borough council this week.

An exhibition will be held in a shop unit on Castle Square, near to Primark on Friday 17 July and Saturday 18 July from 11am until 4pm. The exhibition will include architect’s designs and images as well as a 3D computer generated virtual tour showing how the centre could look in the future.

At the end of last year, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council held a public consultation to seek people’s views on different design options and talk to them about what needed to be improved at the shopping centre.

Support for improving The Malls was overwhelming with 99% of people agreeing The Malls needed to be upgraded and improved and 73% preferring a design that was bright and light and created a ‘street scene’ feel.

Other improvements and changes that could be made as a direct result of the public’s feedback include the creation of new public toilets and improved lift access, a clear canopy that protects the centre from bad weather but doesn’t enclose it, allowing natural light and air to circulate, and demolishing the existing concrete ‘overhangs.’

The biggest transformation though could be outside The Malls along Alencon Link where plans have been developed for a landmark gateway entrance to give a better first impression of the town when people arrive from the railway station.

Cabinet Member for Property and Finance Cllr James Lewin said: “It is clear that the council and people of Basingstoke agree that the redevelopment of The Malls shopping centre is important. These plans are a key part of our vision to create a vibrant town centre with facilities that support a growing and thriving population that will secure and enhance the borough’s long-term economic prosperity.

“Progressing the refurbishment in the recession is crucial if Basingstoke is to attract inward investment and jobs when the economic recovery eventually arrives.”

The Malls redevelopment is part of a bigger master plan to refresh the town centre call the Central Area Vision. This plan will create a different ‘feel’ for each area of the town, which will all fit together and are easy to access like a cultural quarter for the top of town and regenerating the Basing View business park.

A planning application for The Malls will be submitted in September and once approved it is anticipated that work could start on site from spring 2010 with the refurbishment complete by summer 2011.