Monument Mall Refurbishment | Newcastle | 4fl | Proposed

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Being the miserable sod that I am, I'm not so keen on the section that turns the corner onto Northumberland St... The square windows above arched ones just jars with me a bit.

Still, good that Monument Mall is being overhauled!

[inmh88]

Wow! I think that looks fantastic!

Hopefully even more aspirational retailers will be tempted to come to Newcastle and open up!

The North Face Store will apparently be a Flagship store, as I asked them on Twitter and received a reply. Think there is only 5 flagship stores currently in the UK.

[Chatton11]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

Being the miserable sod that I am, I'm not so keen on the section that turns the corner onto Northumberland St... The square windows above arched ones just jars with me a bit.

Still, good that Monument Mall is being overhauled!

That is existing though, they're not planning a complete re-build. I think it all looks great, and makes a lot of sense, and thankfully will get rid of the very dated shiny brass fittings within the mall

[GrahamSoult]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

Wow, that looks simply stunning. Is there any links?

It's the 57-page Design and Access Statement, which can be downloaded from the relevant page of the Newcastle planning site at http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LSOX56BSAP000.

There are 52 separate documents accompanying the application, for anyone with plenty of time on their hands...

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Am over the moon with this. So it seems it's the end of the mall and instead reconfigured for a department store at Monument, small but deeper shops/restaurants along Blackett Street and a big floorplate for a retailer on the 1st and second floors with access from Northumberland St.

It's just what is needed and has the potential to make Blackett Street the premier Street in Newcastle for high end retailers which would link in nicely with plans to redevelop the Blackett Street part of Eldon Square.

[NewcastleStu]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

Being the miserable sod that I am, I'm not so keen on the section that turns the corner onto Northumberland St... The square windows above arched ones just jars with me a bit.

Still, good that Monument Mall is being overhauled!

I agree, I think it looks a bit messy with the mix of window sizes at first floor level. It just looks wrong somehow. I don't know why they're not making the window size and shape consistent on each floor (different floors could have different sizes, if you see what I mean).

Chatton has a fair point though that they'll be limited in what they can do without a total rebuild and it looks like the overall scheme is an improvement on what's there now.


About the "The North Face" shop the shopfitters are there now so I'd imagine it shouldn't be too long until opening.

[Newcastle Historian]

.
More on the (recently discussed on this thread) Monument Mall refurbishment, in todays EVENING CHRONICLE . . .

Plans to revamp Newcastle’s Monument Mall
by Andy Hughes, Evening Chronicle, October 25th 2011


Monument Mall and an artist's impression of the new design

BIG CHANGES are planned for a city centre shopping mall. World-renowned developers Hammerson are planning a facelift for Monument Mall in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.

Plans include opening a new restaurant on the ground floor where the Boots pharmacy was formerly based, as well as more space to attract big name retailers. Sean Bullick, chief executive of city centre development company NE1 Ltd, said: “I have been meeting with the portfolio director of the developers and I can confirm that this is a serious investment in the mall with plans for restaurants and high end retailers – all of which signals very exciting times for Newcastle city centre.

“Clearly, Monument Mall is a fantastic location for such plans, with it being on the corner of Blackett Street and Northumberland Street. “The mall is located at the centre of a lot of outdoor activity, with film screenings being shown near there, as well as the different market stalls.

“Hammerson is an international force and a lot of people are really looking forward to seeing what they will do with it. A spokesman for the company said: “The centre offers restructuring potential through a comprehensive reconfiguration of existing units, exploiting the location by opening units to the street, and bringing new retailers into the scheme.” adding: “We are active asset managers and see great potential in this asset.”


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1bnOCgCxO

[anonymous1]

What sort of timescale would there be on this? How long does planning take, assuming that there aren't any problems? And then how long do we think it'd take from then to be completed? Will businesses inside have to have their leases/tenancies ended early etc.?

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by anonymous1

What sort of timescale would there be on this? How long does planning take, assuming that there aren't any problems? And then how long do we think it'd take from then to be completed? Will businesses inside have to have their leases/tenancies ended early etc.?

Time scale is mentioned in the Design and Access Statement by FaulknersBrowns Architects:

The building currently accommodates a number of retail and food outlets over five storeys (basement, ground and three upper floors), let to different tenants, and these are primarily accessed from an internal mall and atrium arrangement. The current scheme has consistently had a significant proportion of unlet units due to the failings of the layout, and poor relationship with the street. Hammerson’s development objectives are to improve the long-term economic viability and success of the scheme. To achieve this, it is proposed to remove the existing internal shopping mall and atria, and by making more efficient use of the floorplates, create a number of independently trading units with customer access for each from the street. Refurbishment proposals include a number of facade interventions and upgrading of the external fabric.

The main construction period on site is expected to be 40 weeks. Construction will be phased to enable continuity of trade for some existing tenants, either in their present location or relocated within the new scheme.

You can see the Planning Applications on the Newcastle City Council Portal as:

http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LSOX5BBSAP000
2011/1507/01/LBC | Listed Building Application: Alterations to elevations including shop fronts to Blackett Street | Monument Mall Northumberland Street Newcastle upon Tyne

http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LSOX56BSAP000
2011/1506/01/DET | Change of use of part of ground floor from retail (Class A1) to retail/restaurant (Class A1/A3), change of use of mall area and infilling of voids and atria to form additional floorspace (Class A1/A3), change of use of plant/back of house area to retail/restaurant (Class A1/A3) with ancillary storage, sprinkler and tank room and open air plant. Change of use of part of public highway on Blackett Street to pavement cafe (Class A3). Alterations to Blackett Street, Northumberland Street and Brunswick Place elevations including creation of shop fronts and juliette balconies to Blackett Street and Northumberland Court at first floor level | Monument Mall Northumberland Street Newcastle upon Tyne

Couple of plans from FaulknersBrowns Architects showing the proposed Blackett Street and Northumberland Street elevations:

Blackett Street


Northumberland Street


These shots taken on 15th October 2011and June 2011:

[GrahamSoult]

Originally Posted by twinperformance11

First post...

Apparently the Wallis/Evans unit in Momument Mall on the Blackett Street/Northumberland Street corner is to close in the early new year, around 7th Jan. Not surprising with the recent Arcadia closure announcements. Apparently Evans is to have a section in the new BHS on Northumberland Street when that opens.

Great post, and welcome!

That's also good news in the sense that it's a sign of things happening at Monument Mall. From the plans that we were discussing a few weeks ago, it's clear that the existing tenants will need to shuffle around in order for the planned redevelopment to take place.

[paddytoonleics]

Possibly already been mentioned, but just having a snoop on the Planning Commitee page and Monument Mall has been minded to grant approval

[Newcastle Historian]

Monument Mall revamp plans will be decided today
by Tony Henderson, The Journal, December 2nd 2011


PLANS for a £10m facelift for a City Centre shopping complex will be decided today.

The scheme has been tabled by property group Hammerson, which completed the £28m purchase of Monument Mall in Newcastle City Centre earlier this year. Shortly after the deal Hammerson said it was preparing a comprehensive revamp of the centre, which fronts on to Northumberland Street and Blackett Street.

The application, which will go to today’s meeting of the city council’s planning committee, says that despite the mall’s prime spot, it is clear that its vitality and viability has declined markedly in recent years, with many of the ground-floor units fronting Blackett Street vacant and difficult to re-let.

The shop vacancy rate is currently 12.5%, which given the prime location of the site is considered high.

A Hammerson spokesman said yesterday: “We are bringing the whole building back to full retail use, thus ensuring its long-term economic viability and creating jobs.” The scheme includes changing part of the ground floor to a retail/restaurant use, together with a pavement cafe.

Commercial floorspace would also be increased by infilling voids and other spaces in the mall.


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz1fMqa2Kkm

[tcollins]

The Monument Mall application was approved this morning.

[AndreiB]

Excellent news. Monument Mall at the moment is a wasted opportunity. I am also always disappointed that the only cafe/pub in Grey's Monument is the poorly managed Earl Grey's and the "takeaway" Pret. I look forward to some new names, if they stick to the idea of cafes in the central area.

[GrahamSoult]

Originally Posted by AndreiB

Excellent news. Monument Mall at the moment is a wasted opportunity. I am also always disappointed that the only cafe/pub in Grey's Monument is the poorly managed Earl Grey's and the "takeaway" Pret. I look forward to some new names, if they stick to the idea of cafes in the central area.

That's true - the Charles Grey pub has felt grimy and unloved when I've been in recently, but it occupies a fantastic spot. A great vantage point for retail-related photos too!

Pic from 11 July 2010:

Image source: http://www.soultsretailview.co.uk/

[GrahamSoult]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

Anyone else see Mr Soult on Look North tonight discussing high street retail?

I saw it Inevitably, there was a lot more filmed that wasn't used, as is the case with these things.

Since the filming, Evan/Wallis has closed and I took a couple of shots of the store today, minus its signage:

It doesn't look very good at the moment, but of course it's all in aid of a good cause as far as enabling Monument Mall's redevelopment is concerned.

Image source: http://www.soultsretailview.co.uk/

[geordiejon]

Can I just ask what is happening with TK Maxx? Is it leaving the city centre? They seem to operate better in retail parks tbh and the Newcastle city centre store is tiny. Monument mall almost empty- when does it close and work start? Does anyone know?

[flange]

Hammerson to create Monument to Newcastle retail

27 January 2012

By Sarah Stewart

REIT to begin revamp of city centre mall in April.

The rest of story is subscription only.

http://www.propertyweek.com/news/new...030956.article

[hollaa01]

Aaaaaanyway... I want to read that Property Week article about Monument Mall but I can't see it in any branch of WHSmith. Annoying!

[daverobson]

Actually cannot wait to find out who'll end up in Monument Mall!