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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
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SO, DO BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN? SEE PAGE 23
Famous name is flagship tenant for new shopping development
MARKS SPARKS £350m CENTRE
BY ALEX CAMPBELL
VISION: Left, A glimpse at what the new centre might look like. Far left, the M&S store in Hanley.
alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
HIGH street giant Marks & Spencer will spearhead Hanley’s new £350 million shopping centre by opening a 100,000 sq ft department store in the heart of the complex. The retailer was last night named as the main store for the flagship City Sentral complex after agreeing terms with developer Realis. It was also revealed that Vue Cinemas has agreed terms to open a multi-screen cinema at the shopping centre, which is due for completion in 2015 and will create thousands of jobs. Realis managing director Duncan Mathieson said: “Naming an anchor tenant is probably the biggest stepping stone of them all. “A lot of people questioned whether it could get off the ground, but we’re now moving forward. “We’ve had discussions with many retailers and a huge amount of interest.”
Mr Mathieson said Realis is now preparing to enter the ‘leasing phase’ of the development and more tenants will be announced in the coming months. The Marks & Spencer deal was revealed to delegates at the British Council of Shopping Centres’ annual conference in Manchester. Potteries darts icon Phil Taylor was guest of honour. DELIGHT: Mark Meredith, left, and Duncan Mathieson.
Councillor Mark Meredith, Stoke-onTrent City Council’s cabinet member for economic development, also addressed a crowd of retail executives. He said: “Today we can finally say the dreams are coming true. “Some cynical people have said this will never happen, but today it’s clear the major investment will continue. “It will create thousands of jobs in a city centre that really needs them.” The flagship scheme has attracted criticism for its name with some residents arguing the deliberate misspelling of ‘Sentral’ will mean the scheme is ridiculed.
But Doug Wardle, spokesman for the City Centre Partnership, said: “They are putting £350 million of investment into Stoke-on-Trent, they can call it what they like. “I am very buoyant about this development. Stoke-on-Trent needs and deserves improvement; it has done for 25 years.” The announcement comes just days after the Potteries Shopping Centre revealed it is to create 200 jobs with a new cinema and restaurants in a £14 million expansion. The future of the existing Marks & Spencer store in Upper Market Square is now unclear. City Sentral will also include more than 70 shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as an 80-bed hotel and parking for 1,000 cars.
What do you think? Email us at letters@ thesentinel.co.uk
PLEASED: Council leader Wesley Fitzgerald.
Firm’s move to bring 350 jobs A TOTAL of 350 jobs are on their way to South Cheshire after a logistics firm confirmed plans to relocate to Crewe. Expert Logistics is moving from its current base in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, to Crewe 360, a speculative warehouse development in Weston Road. Cheshire East Council has hailed the announcement as “outstanding news”. Council leader Wesley Fitzgerald said: “There is immense satisfaction in playing a role to help businesses to thrive and expand. I’d also like to thank Jobcentre Plus, which has provided significant support to facilitate the relocation.” See Page 6
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