Iconic department store loved in the 90s to be demolished as town centre undergoes £200m transformation
TOWN REVIVAL Iconic department store loved in the 90s to be demolished as town centre undergoes £200m transformation
AN ICONIC town centre department store is set for demolition to be replaced by a £200m redevelopment.
Dubbed the "heart of Camberley", the former Allders site in the Surrey town's centre is set be demolished over the summer.
4
The Allders department store has been empty for years
Credit: Flickr
4
A collection of 114 Manhattan-style apartments were also built on the town centre block
Credit: Surrey Heath Borough Council
4
Transformations in Camberley are aimed at making it a hub for independent shopping, dining, and premium leisure experiences
Credit: Surrey Heath Borough Council
4
The London Road Block plans to have a similar structure to that of a shopping mall
Credit: Surrey Heath Borough Council
The former department store building, which has been empty for almost two decades, will instead be replaced by up to 550 homes.
Demolition of the site is expected to take 12 months, after Surrey Heath Borough Council approved the proposal early last week.
Buildings to be stripped down and removed of asbestos are the former Allders department store which went into administration, and a former Thai restaurant.
It comes as nearly £1.5 million from HM Government was received in September last year through the Brownfield Land Release Fund.
On top of that, Surrey Health council said it would make a "substantial financial contribution" to secure preparation works on the site prior to its development.
The council executive heard that the site has "a great potential to deliver a variety of homes", which can thereby "boost town centre and evening economy and regenerate the town" as a whole.
Councillor Kel Finan- Cooke said: "The London Road development site has reached a significant milestone with the commencement of these works.
"The active development of the site enables the next step of securing a housing developer."
They added: "The area will be surrounded by hoarding whilst the works take place to protect the site and ensure the public's safety.
"We will continue to provide updates as the work progress."
Edinburgh's Bold Transformation: From Debenhams to Pod Hotel
Marketing for the site is set to start later in the year in order to secure a development and facilitate further regeneration of the new homes.
In order to attract developers, the council has progressed with preparatory works and demotion, as a contract has not yet been awarded for the homes.
They have invited developers and investors to contact them regarding opportunities for the site.
The work is part of the One Public Estate Programme and council's Local Plan which ultimately aims to provide for a total of 5,578 homes over a period of 20 years.
This equates to approximately 279 homes per year between 2019 and 2038.
Councillor Shaun Macdonald, Leader, Surrey Heath Borough Council said: 'The council is committed to enhancing Camberley town centre, however, we recognise that this cannot be achieved in isolation.
"We will work with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that we build on progress already made.
"Whilst we understand there are significant challenges ahead, it is crucial that we continue to improve the town centre, deliver new homes, and maintain sound financial management.'
The council has recently prioritised development of The Square shopping centre, a new leisure centre, better transport links and investments in cultural infrastructure and digital technology.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
2 hours ago
- North Wales Live
'Better than Stanley' Ninja water bottle is £8 this weekend in double deal
Ninja has just kicked off a mid-season sale across its entire site, offering a 20% discount when using the code NINJA20 at checkout on all items except existing bundle deals and their new Mr Whippy-style Ninja Swirl ice cream machine. But one of the brand's most sought-after products is also one of the cheapest and, thanks to a double deal stack, shoppers can pick it up for less than £10 this payday. The Ninja Thirsti is an insulated bottle suitable for hot and cold drinks, available in two sizes and five colours including classic black, white and grey, as well as pastel mint green and blue. Customers have praised its leak-proof top which makes it great for commutes, along with its stylish design and ease of cleaning in the dishwasher. The 530ml bottle usually costs £29.99, while the larger 700ml version costs £34.99 at full price. With the sale code, shoppers can get them for £23.99 or £27.99 respectively, but savvy shoppers have discovered a way to save even more by combining deals via a money-saving website, reports the Manchester Evening News. New members who sign up for free at TopCashback receive a £15 bonus when they make their first qualifying purchase, plus cashback on any spend. This means if they shop the Ninja sale they can effectively get the 530ml bottle for £8.19, a saving of 73% on the usual price. The Thirsti sits alongside similarly premium rival brands like Yeti and Stanley, whose Rambler and Quencher bottles have attracted attention from celebrities and influencers alike. Ninja's version has the kind of high tech spec you'd expect from the brand and, since its debut last year, bargain-hunting customers made it a Black Friday top-seller on the Ninja site as well as an Amazon bestseller for Prime Day. NInja says that during testing the BPA-free travel bottle kept beverages cold for as long as 24 hours or hot for up to 8, thanks to triple-layered Thermo insulation surrounding a sleek stainless steel core which also helps keeps drinks fizzy for extended periods. Shoppers on the Ninja website have given the product an overall score of 4.6 stars from five from 531 customer reviews with 92% of purchasers saying they would recommend the product. One customer described the Thirsti as 'the best bottle I've ever owned,' continuing: "I've been buying other brands of thermal bottles for many years and, although the Ninja one is priced around the same as the others, it is far superior in keeping drinks cold. It literally keeps ice cubes in ice form all day and it looks cool. I'm about to order another two for gifts." A different five-star review praised the 'brilliant' bottle as 'better than a Stanley,' before concluding: "Very impressed with this drinks bottle and would not go to anything different." The shopper was not alone in saying the bottle outperformed the iconic Stanley, with another customer saying: "I put fizzy pop and some ice cubes into my cup when I started work at 6pm, by 8am when I finished it was still icy cold, still as fizzy as when it was freshly opened and still had the odd trace of ice cube floating around. I am really impressed. "The bottle itself looks modern and slick and, as a mobility aid user, the wrist strap makes it so much easier for me to carry around. Cheaper than its leading competitor (who should stick to making tools), the Thirsti is a must for keeping cool on the go." While many customers have commented on how sturdy the Thirsti is, it actually proved too hefty for some, with one three-star review stating: "The cup is ok but when fluid is put in it's very heavy, gifted it to my husband." A different buyer offered a word of warning for shoppers considering the paler shades: "Lovely bottle, keeps my drinks very hot. However, it marked very easily and now looks very old. I wish I'd bought the darker colour bottle." Overall shoppers have been impressed with the Thirsti 's ability to keep beverages chilled, with one reviewer hailing it as 'the best drinks bottle you can buy' thanks to its exceptional insulation. They said: "I like to fill it up at night time with a Slushie and take it up to bed with me as it is still frozen and slushy the next morning. If I do that with another drinks bottle that I have it turns to water by the morning." How to get a Ninja Thirsti for £8.19 with TopCashback Sign up as a new member at TopCashback for free via this link Search for Ninja on the site, click through and buy the item normally. Get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more on an item - including the Ninja Thirsti or anything else on the site either in the sale or at full price. The cashback will track to the TopCashback 'Earnings page' within seven days of your purchase.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Reuters
Blackstone to reopen New York office one week after shooting
NEW YORK, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Blackstone (BX.N), opens new tab told employees on Friday it will reopen its New York headquarters on August 4, a week after shuttering it in the wake of a shooting that killed four people including one of its executives. The world's largest alternative asset manager explained the move in a memo sent to staff, the contents of which were later confirmed by a spokesperson. The office at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan will be open on Monday, but people will also have the option to work remotely, the memo said. The company expects a return to normal working schedules the following week, but if anyone is uncomfortable returning, the company plans to make accommodations. Police have said 27-year-old Las Vegas resident Shane Tamura was not targeting Blackstone when he entered the building on July 28 and shot senior executive Wesley LePatner, police officer Didarul Islam, private security officer Aland Etienne and Julia Hyman, who was working as an associate at building landlord Rudin Management. Blackstone has been working with Rudin, the New York Police Department, and outside contractors to reinforce security in New York and globally, the memo added. It also repeated a previous offer of counseling to staff members who want it. The building also houses consultants KPMG and the headquarters of the National Football League. The memo was first reported by Bloomberg News.
Metro
19 hours ago
- Metro
‘Incredible' fast food chain from Australia to open 100 new UK stores
It's been called 'the best Mexican on the market' – and now this Aussie-born favourite is planning to take over the UK. The popular fast food chain Zambrero, known for its customisable burritos and burrito bowls, is set to open 100 new UK restaurants by 2030. The Mexican-inspired chain first launched in London in 2021 and has since expanded to 13 locations, including Manchester, Birmingham, Essex and Reading. But it's not stopping there. Zambrero has confirmed more UK sites are on the way next year, including its very first Scottish location. 'We've had a lot of interest in the brand during the last couple of years – and now is the right time for us to expand through our franchise partners and work towards opening 100 restaurants by 2030,' Emily Teh, CEO of Zambrero UK, said. So, what's on the Zambrero menu? Customers can build their own burritos and bowls, nachos and quesadillas from a range of fillings, including pulled pork, chicken, cauliflower and spicy black rice, with salsa, cheese, sour cream and guacamole to top it off. Prices start from around £10 for a small burrito or burrito bowl, with larger sizes coming in closer to around £13. It'll also cost you extra for chips and guac, and churros. Zambrero is probably best known for its burritos and burrito bowls, and some customers have called them the best around. One reviewer raved on TikTok about the Manchester location, calling it 'incredible' and claiming it had 'the best burrito in town'. Founded in Canberra, Australia, in 2005, Zambrero has become the largest Mexican restaurant chain in both Australia and Ireland. With more than 300 global sites, it's now aiming to expand into the UK lunch scene. Social media is filled with praise, and TripAdvisor reviews are equally glowing. 'An absolute must go. I have 3 / 5 of my lunches there. Best Mexican on the market,' one customer wrote. Another called it 'the perfect work lunch spot', and if the expansion goes to plan, you might be seeing one open near your office sooner than you think. It's not the only popular fast food chain expanding in the UK. One burger joint from the Netherlands is also planning to open 100 new UK sites. More Trending Fat Phill's, which is said to be home to Amsterdam's 'best burger', quietly launched in Clapham Junction in London at the end of 2024, serving up smash burgers, American-style sandwiches, loaded fries and mac and cheese. The chain, also known as Fat Phill's Diner, is still relatively new, having only been founded in 2019 by Armin Vahabian, but it's already got 18 locations across the Netherlands. It's been brought over here by Freshly Baked Ltd, the franchisor behind pretzel joint Auntie Anne's UK, and as part of this deal, there are plans to open several more sites on London high streets in the near future and develop up to 100 sites nationwide over the next 10 years. View More » Multiple sites also look set to roll out across Ireland by 2030. Zambrero has 13 different stores across five UK locations. These include: London: Cannon Street, Eastcheap, Kentish Town, Battersea, Crouch End, Twickenham Essex: Chelmsford and Loughton Reading: Queen Victoria Street Birmingham: Bull Ring and Colmore Row Manchester Cross Street and Manchester Picadilly Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I tried McDonald's 'weirdest' McFlurry yet that 'tastes like Calpol' MORE: We found three places in London that feel just like a day at the beach MORE: 'Peak Greggs' is coming to UK — here's everything sausage roll fans should know Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
