Revamped Wolverhampton Mander Centre to rival Bull Ring and Merry Hill
Bosses at Wolverhampton's Mander Centre today insisted a multi-million-pound revamp would see the city compete with the Bull Ring and Merry Hill – as they revealed detailed plans will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The centre was boosted by the announcement last week that WH Smith had done a U-turn over the closure of its flagship store.
But shoppers have become concerned that big names are no longer interested in the city.
Steve Burgin, director of retail asset management for Mander Centre owners Delancey, today said proposals to extend the centre and attract new businesses were moving forward, and an announcement would be made in the next two months. Bosses want to merge shops and create bigger units in order to attract big-name stores to the city.
Mr Burgin said the plans revolved around a 'major anchor' at the centre, which it is hoped would be taken over by a large chain.
The plans are intended to tie in with the £5m revamp of the city centre that will see some roads made one way and areas including Princess Street pedestrianised in a bid to make the city centre more attractive for investors.
Chains including TK Maxx, Dorothy Perkins and Oasis have all closed shops in recent years.
Mr Burgin said: "The challenges affecting Wolverhampton are affecting every town centre in the country. The out-of-town shopping centres like Birmingham's Bull Ring and Merry Hill have received investment and they have retailers all in one place that have the space to showcase their product ranges – that is what we want in Wolverhampton."
