St Austell Development becomes White River Place
As the £75 million town centre regeneration of St Austell gets well underway with over 50% of high profile lettings secured, leading developer David McLean, in partnership with the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) and Restormel Borough Council, has unveiled White River Place as the name for the scheme, which will breathe new life into Cornwall’s largest town.
The RDA will have invested £31.5 million in the project when it is completed in two years’ time, with the balance coming from David McLean Developments.
The largest store to be let so far will be occupied by leading home and garden retailer Wilkinsons. With 280 stores across the UK, the company hopes to have 500 by 2012. Also confirmed are Starbucks coffee house, fashion retailers New Look and Peacocks, and high street bank HBOS. The 550-space underground car park will be operated by Apcoa.
The mixed-use scheme will also include a four-screen, 615 seat-cinema that will be completed by autumn 2008, as well as 69 apartments.
Sean Finlay, Development Director of David McLean Developments says: “From the outset, our vision has always been to create a town which encouraged people to use the town not only as a retail destination but also where people can go to relax and live. By providing extensive leisure facilities as well as leading high-street names, we are confident this will further attract people from a larger catchment area.
“As the largest town in Cornwall, the name and quality of this regeneration scheme needed to match the town’s stature. As the St Austell River, also referred to as the White River, only runs through this one town, naming the development White River Place maintains the links with this historic centre.
“The lettings are all big names and signal an impressive start for this high quality mixed use development. The scheme has been challenging and complex to date, and having recently commenced construction we are absolutely committed to St Austell and now look towards completion of the scheme by autumn 2009.”
Ian Whale, regeneration manager at the South West RDA, adds: “With the scheme more than half let we are confident that White River Place will make a major contribution to St Austell’s economy. Hundreds of people will be employed during the two-year build, with millions of pounds of construction costs recycled into the area, and once complete it will employ up to 700 people.”
Councillor Annette Egerton, Regeneration Portfolio Holder at Restormel Borough Council said, “I am absolutely delighted to see the confidence from existing retailers to further expand their businesses in St Austell. Two companies have already shown their commitment to the town by announcing their intentions to move into much bigger, more modern premises. I am sure this announcement will send a clear signal to other high street names that are considering a move to Cornwall’s largest town and into the exciting development taking place”.
Tim Letts of Tushingham Moore, joint agents for the scheme with CBRE comments: “David McLean Development’s White River Place mixed-use development will comprehensively change the face of St Austell town centre and names such as New Look and Starbucks, and a four-screen cinema will provide a welcome ‘pull’ for the development, and will put St. Austell firmly back on the Cornish map as a retail and leisure destination.”
Friday 5th October 2007