Queensberry Real Estate, Development Manager, for the Merseyside Pension Fund, on Tunsgate Square Shopping Centre, Guildford, has annouced that Guildford Borough Council has resolved to grant planning permission for the 60,000 sq ft comprehensive refurbishment of the scheme.
Tunsgate Square will become a new distinctive retailing and restaurant quarter within a high-quality, well-designed, contemporary building, on Guildford’s High Street, which will complement the existing high-end shopping surrounding the centre.
Queensberry’s aim is to target premium boutique retail and restaurant brands to create a more inspiring shopping and leisure destination. They will create new and replacement units, which will appeal to a variety of retailers and restaurants.
The plans include an opportunity to extend the centre’s critical mass to make it more impactful. The High Street entrance will be transformed with a high level café/restaurant at first floor overlooking the High Street, and will significantly improve the design, access and future footfall.
The plans include the creation of two levels to the rear of the scheme, improvements to the elevation of the building on Tunsgate, and an enhanced environment onto Castle Street, creating a visual link to Castle Gardens, one of Guildford’s key assets.
Tunsgate Square will have a new roof, which will ensure that the central square continues to benefit from natural light, a new central atrium and a feature staircase linking both levels.
The residential units will be retained and the public car park will remain at basement level, with much better access to the shops and restaurants.
Jon Munce, Director at Queensberry Real Estate, Development Managers on Tunsgate Square, said, “Queensberry is delighted that Guildford Borough Council has resolved to grant planning permission and we look forward to progressing with the development proposals. We have a great opportunity to deliver a shopping centre refurbishment which re-establishes Tunsgate Square’s distinctive position within Guildford.
Work will start on site in summer 2015 and anticipated to complete in 12 months, to provide 70,000 sq. ft. of high quality retail/leisure space.
The scheme’s architect is Lyons+Sleeman+Hoare. The planning consultant is CBRE and the leasing agent is Cushman & Wakefield.
Tunsgate Square Shopping Centre was built in 1972 and was renovated in the 1980s, with the High Street frontage partially rebuilt and a glazed roof installed in The Square.
