Phase II plans submitted for Eden Walk
Published: 03 May, 2011
New designs to revitalise Kingston’s Eden Walk shopping centre have been submitted to Kingston Council.
Proposals to improve and revitalise Eden Walk have been on the cards for some time, with owners Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) planning to renovate the frontage, modernise the signage and lighting, improve the public realm and create a new anchor store at the Union Street entrance.
Back in October, when the Eden Walk Shopping Centre General Partner (EWSCGP) welcomed locals to view the plans at a pop-up shop, a spokesperson said: “The units are too small and the centre is dark and enclosed. Someone once described it as the “back end of beyond”. It’s dated, difficult to let and in dire need of a refurbishment.”
As reported in The Kingston Guardian, USS’s development manager, Neil Hardiman, said: “The new anchor store with doors on Union Street and the Central Square would act as a destination in its own right, helping to boost trade in Union Street and Crown Arcade.
“It would significantly enhance the currently dark and unattractive Western Mall section of the shopping centre.
"There has been good interest, both from retailers who would be new to Kingston and from retailers with an existing presence in the town.”
Work on Phase I, including new cladding, canopy finishes, signage and lighting, is due to start next month and is expected to take four months to complete.
Current tenants include Marks & Spencer, Boots, Sainsbury’s, H& M and Habitat but many of the 28 units are either empty or temporary.
