The news and views of DLG Architects
perspective
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Inside Issue 31.... - The Challenge of Keeping Town Centres Vibrant - Liverpool’s Flagship Forever 21 Wins Approval - Fashion Village in Toulouse Close to Opening - Project News
supermarkets......department store......entertainment......fashion village...... September 2011
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Majestic on Site Leeds Located prominently in City Square and directly opposite Leeds Station, work has begun on this iconic Grade II listed landmark to create prime leisure accommodation. DLG’s proposals introduce shopfront glazing to ground floor and rooftop trading terrace and the opening up of the dramatic interior and dome. The target for completion is March 2012.
Nailloux fashion village® Toulouse With less than three months to go before the opening the Nailloux Fashion Village ® team are applying the finishing touches to this 33000m2 outlet centre close to Toulouse. The steeply sloping site posed a problem for traditional large scale retail ‘boxes’ but DLG turned this problem on its head creating a series of meandering (car free) streets at different levels each leading into a central village square - a flexible space capable of hosting themed events.
Debenhams Proposals Darlington The Moorfield Group and DLG recently revealed proposals at a public consultation to introduce a new Debenhams department store to Darlington town centre. Located within the historic old Northern Echo building and with direct links to the Cornmill Centre, the store will create up to 200 new jobs and be a major boost for economic growth within the town centre.
retail......consent......collaboration......big society......experience......localism...... September 2011
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High Street Conflict A week of violence in some of the high streets in our biggest cities has brought another, unwelcome reason to focus on the health of shopping centres. Whilst there have been many opinions expressed on the causes for such extreme behaviour the episode has served to confirm both the importance of shopping areas as a focus for local communities and the importance of shopping (or at least the recreational acquisition of non-essential items) to the lives of many people, young and old. Indeed for many people the only experience of society outside the home is in the daily or weekly trip to the shops and shopping is known to be the country’s most popular pastime. Resolving conflicts on the High Street has been a long standing concern at DLG. We continue to meet the demands for large footplates in the historic cores to some of our thriving town centres. The very
qualities that make our county towns and city streets a popular destination for shopping, eating and more are also the constraints that must be dealt with in developing new space to meet modern retail requirements. Retailer requirements continue to evolve and new formats make the search for space to suit expanding newcomers to the High Street still more challenging. In Liverpool DLG’s scheme for Forever 21 is about to start on site following an intense period of discussion with conservation officers which resulted in permission to demolish the former Boots store to provide the footprint and the floor to floor heights that the American retailer demands. Planning authorities also recognise the importance of the evening economy in bringing activity to streets that might otherwise seem threatening after the shops have shut.
In Leeds, the listed Majestyk nightclub is set to receive a new use and new lease of life following the planning permission secured by DLG. Convenience continues to drive the supermarkets to develop new smaller formats suitable for primary and secondary town centre locations and our current schemes include space for Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose, although there remains scepticism on the predicted increase in footfall to the neighbouring shops. We continue to enjoy the challenges offered by retail work and to have success in resolving the conflicts between the expectations of authorities and retailers in our High Streets. We like a spot of shopping too and in London, the shop next door is, naturally, Joy. Jill Rayson Partner
Forever 21 Liverpool A new flagship Fashion store for American retailer Forever 21 has received Planning approval from Liverpool City Council. Commissioned by Royal London Asset Management, DLG have developed a stunning new 46,000 sq ft store on the corner of Whitechapel and Church Street. After detailed discussions with Forever 21’s team in California about how they trade in the USA and Japan, we persuaded the client to look at a vertically stacked store trading over 5 separate levels. “This is a very exciting project and we are delighted to have the opportunity of working with such a prestigious retailer as Forever 21.” Drew Watkins Senior Fund Manager
News......office......retail......supermarkets......regeneration.....education...... September 2011
Windsor House High Wycombe Planning Submitted
High Wycombe Planning Planning has now been submitted by DLG for the first phase of this town centre mixed-use student and retail proposal.
Marks and Spencer Simply Food We have been instructed to prepare a planning application for a new Simply Food store. Working with M&S and their commitment to ‘Plan A’.
Derby College Framework
Derby College Ambitious Plans
Following a competitive selection process we have been appointed to the Derby College framework to provide architectural services. The college has ambitious plans
Marks & Spencer Design Development
for their campuses and we look forward to working with them to bring these ideas to reality.
The Leeds Library
St James Liverpool Regeneration Plans
Hidden in a grade 2* listed building in Commercial Street the Leeds Library which dates back to 1768 is the oldest surviving subscription library of its type in the UK. We were recently appointed to develop proposals to address the library’s operational and structural challenges.
The Leeds Library Sensitive Conservation
St James Masterplan, Liverpool Major regeneration proposals continue to progress for 250 homes, business start-ups, retail, specialist care home and 50,000 sq ft of community space.
Yorkshire House, Leeds Contemporary office refurbishment proposals are now in place for this important Leeds city centre building following the successful introduction of Carluccio’s restaurant at ground floor level.
London Office 128 Southwark Street London SE1 0SW
Leeds Office One Brewery Wharf, Waterloo Street Leeds LS10 1GX
t +44 (0)20 7620 1236 f +44 (0)20 7928 4416 london@dlgarchitects.com
t +44 (0)113 2471 222 f +44 (0)113 2204 520 leeds@dlgarchitects.com
dlgarchitects.com
Yorkshire House Refurbishment Proposals
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