Work to start on Morpeth's £32m mall

Jun 26 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

WORK is expected to start next month on a £32m retail development which aims to put a Northumberland market town firmly back on the shopping map.

Construction of the 24-unit Edwardian-style mall in Morpeth is scheduled to begin on July 21 – finally ending a four-year wait for a major revamp of the town centre’s shopping facilities.

Yesterday it was revealed that leading construction company Mansell, which has offices in Gateshead, has been awarded the contract to redevelop Morpeth’s ageing Sanderson’s Arcade and Back Riggs retail areas.

The scheme is being brought forward by developer Morpeth II, a joint venture company between Yorkshire-based Dransfield Properties and Ethel Austin Properties.

Urban regeneration specialists Dransfield took over the Morpeth plans in October 2005 after a previous £60m scheme by Trinity Developments – unveiled in 2004 – was dropped when it failed to win local support. Now Mansell’s North East business unit team is preparing to start work on the project, which will transform a rundown shopping centre into a landmark new mall.

Marks & Spencer will provide the anchor store on the development and other leading names – including New Look, O2 and Starbucks – have already signed up to be tenants.

Local businesses Healthi Choice and The Jewellers Guild are also opening stores in the new arcade.

It will provide 85,000sq ft of purpose-built retail space together with a landscaped piazza area and an extension to the existing Morrisons supermarket.

The overall scheme also includes a new bus interchange, 17,000sq ft of office space and further car parking.

Yesterday Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties, said: “We are pleased to be announcing Mansell as the contractor for our development in Morpeth and looking forward to getting on site and delivering this scheme, which we know has been long awaited in the town.

“We have already had a great deal of interest in the scheme and as well as those retailers who are already signed up, we are in talks with other major national companies who are keen to have a presence in Morpeth. People will start to see more activity on site over the next few weeks as preparations for construction work get under way.”

Bill Aitchison, regional managing director for Mansell, said: “We are all looking forward to getting on site to begin work on the delivery of Sanderson’s Arcade, which we know will provide a tremendous addition to the centre of Morpeth.”

Mansell was named Major Contractor of the Year 2008 in the Building Awards, which were presented in London earlier this year.

The award is presented annually to a construction company with a turnover in excess of £200m a year, which can demonstrate success and exceptional performance.

We are looking forward to delivering this scheme, which we know has been long awaited