Planning permissions were obtained for a mixed-use regeneration scheme comprising a foodstore, non-food retail, a hotel, commercial leisure and residential accommodation. The completed early phases comprise 220,000 sq ft with Travelodge hotel (77 bedrooms) and 129 residential apartments above retail units and a new Sainsbury’s food store. This was followed by a new Vue 7 screen cinema with associated new restaurants and café units, and the refurbishment of The Meads shopping centre.
For 2019 a further phase including retail and leisure units and a further 99 apartments has been granted planning permission, with construction for the L+S+H designed scheme scheduled for 2020.
Other completed L+S+H projects within the town centre area linked to the overall masterplan include the Prince’s Mead shopping centre extension.
The Masterplan continues to evolve with a further series of major projects and to respond to the changes in the functions of UK town centres.