Latest news with #GraftonCentre
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cambridge Grafton Centre: What is happening and why?
Despite a multi-million pounds building revamp eight years ago, the Grafton Centre in Cambridge is on the cusp of a major transformation. The "dying" complex - once home to Mothercare, Debenhams and a cinema - is about to be partially demolished to make way for laboratory space, offices, a new hotel and a reduced shopping is happening - and what do people think of it? The Grafton now The Grafton originally opened in 1984, with Queen Elizabeth II cutting the has undergone a number of changes since then, most notably in 1995 and in the shopping centre still holds a handful of big brand outlets like Boots and Decathlon, as well as independent businesses, a gym and a ping pong parlour. But the city's Debenhams store remains empty after its closure four years ago, smaller clothing stores have locked up for good and the curtain came down on the Vue cinema last month. John O'Shea, the centre's manager, remembers a £28m revamp of the shopping centre back in 2017 and says he is "very, very excited" to see this latest transformation take shape."It gives the shopping centre another lease of life," he said."I was here for the redevelopment last time round but, like many shopping centres across the UK, the Grafton suffered post-Covid."Mr O'Shea said they were now "considering the future" of the adjacent Vue building after the cinema franchise quit the centre last month. What is changing? The Grafton is undergoing a major facelift, with much of the interior changing to incorporate laboratory space for the ever-growing Cambridge tech the area around it will also see huge changes. Planners say the existing main entrance of the Grafton will be kept, with a corridor of shops leading to an outdoor courtyard that will take visitors to Burleigh Street, opposite the current Primark empty shops on Burleigh Street will be demolished to create another new entrance.A new life sciences building will replace Abbeygate House on East Road, with restaurants on the ground rear of the centre, where there are escalators and empty units, will become a "breakout area" for workers at the labs to will also be a new Premier Inn hotel opposite the former Vue on East Road. Why are the plans going ahead? The Pioneer Group, which got planning permission for the project from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning last year, said there was demand for science spaces from big companies and small start-ups in the city."Cambridge is one of the top places in the world for innovation and science," said director Subjit Jassy."We felt there was a trend for science places to go back into the city centre because you get the benefit of public transport and local amenities."Earlier this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she wanted to see "world-class companies" grow in the area between Oxford and Cambridge, in order for the region to become "Europe's Silicon Valley".A report produced in September by Greater Cambridge Shared Planning said a "significant number" of projects for new labs and offices had gained planning consent, but warned "there may remain a shortfall" in spaces. Where will the shops go? The plan is to keep the Grafton's bigger shops, including H&M, Decathlon and Boots - and relocate some independent Jassy insisted they did not want to "get rid" of the shopping centre, but "retain as much as we can".His observation was that local people thought the centre "used to have a place in everybody's heart" but that "a lot of the feedback was that the Grafton Centre's dying – something needs to happen.""I think people recognise that this scale of shops in this location doesn't work anymore," he said. What do people think? Shopper Sarah Lefever said it was "quite sad" to see the Grafton's steady decline."I've come here since I was little, it's very different to see it with all the empty shops."She said it was "really disappointing" that the cinema had left, remembering "hustle and bustle" in years gone by. Gishani Parameswaran said the Grafton was not very welcoming for young families."This is a closed space area once people get in," she said."I feel like when I get here I'm just focused on the time because there isn't much else to focus on here."Catherine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University - which has its Cambridge campus on East Road, said she did not think many people would miss the Grafton."It wasn't the most fun, jolly space in the world," she she was not convinced there was sufficient demand for labs and offices."Increasingly big companies are shedding their office space," she said."People are talking a lot about lab spaces, I can't personally see they are going to fill up." When is it all happening? An archaeological dig has already taken place on the site, which brought up some foundations from Victorian tenement next step is for demolition work to begin on Abbeygate House, which could begin later this on the new shopping area and an initial phase of the life sciences spaces are expected to be finished by the end of 2028. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
City shopping centre to be demolished to make way for science lab, gym & hotel – and shoppers despair ‘it's a sad sight'
Plans were approved last February to change the building on the land GETTING MALLED City shopping centre to be demolished to make way for science lab, gym & hotel – and shoppers despair 'it's a sad sight' A POPULAR shopping centre is set to be demolished in a major UK city. The Grafton Centre in Cambridge housed just 11 retailers after years of decline. 5 The Grafton Centre in Cambridge is set to be partially demolished Credit: BPM 5 It houses just 11 retailers after years of closures post-Covid Credit: BPM 5 It will be replaced by science laboratories, a hotel and a gym Credit: BPM Built in 1983, the shopping hub has undergone significant changes in the 40 years since it was built. An expansion took place in the 1990s, in addition to a recent refurbishment in 2017. Despite attempts to revive the struggling centre, Cambridge City Council approved plans to partially demolish the building in February 2024. Led by the Pioneer Group, the demolished site will be replaced by science laboratories, plus a hotel and a gym. It hopes to be a more productive use of the space, as the shopping centre had become run down with lots of empty units. Over the last few years retailers like Debenhams, River Island and New Look all closed down their Grafton-Centre sites, leaving it feeling increasingly empty. Shoppers told Cambridgeshire Live that they were "sad" to see the shopping centre so empty. Maddy Richer said: "It's just sad because this is in the centre of Cambridge. "I suppose it is good for the science industry but I don't know if it has to be right in the centre of Cambridge." Locals expressed frustration that the redevelopment plan has taken so long, with the centre lying mostly empty for two years. Birmingham give update on new £3billion stadium as they announce major development Families in the area expressed concern that the science-focused redevelopment will leave the area with fewer activities for children. Kim High told the local newspaper: "It used to be a great place for families to do activities. "Things like that we will miss because there is not much else to do. "I think Cambridge is just gearing towards science and not families." With just 11 retailers left in the store, some locals said that they "don't think it is good publicity for Cambridge" and they would rather the space be put to better use. 5 Some locals are looking forward to the derelict site having a purpose Credit: BPM 5 Vue has announced they will be closing this summer Credit: BPM The latest business to announce its departure from the store is cinema chain Vue, who will close this summer. The closure comes as high streets up and down the country struggle to cope with the decline in footfall since Covid. With many retailers moving online, shopping centres have seen retailers closing stores, leaving them empty and derelict. This becomes unattractive for customers, further reducing footfall and leaving councils looking for an alternative use for these vast spaces. With its university population and appeal for young people, the new development could provide exciting research and job opportunities. It does, however, mark the end of a historic building once-beloved by families for its wide range of shops and entertainment options.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
City shopping centre to be demolished to make way for science lab, gym & hotel – and shoppers despair ‘it's a sad sight'
A POPULAR shopping centre is set to be demolished in a major UK city. The Grafton Centre in Cambridge housed just 11 retailers after years of decline. 5 5 5 Built in 1983, the shopping hub has undergone significant changes in the 40 years since it was built. An expansion took place in the 1990s, in addition to a recent refurbishment in 2017. Despite attempts to revive the struggling centre, Cambridge City Council approved plans to partially demolish the building in February 2024. Led by the Pioneer Group, the demolished site will be replaced by science laboratories, plus a hotel and a gym. It hopes to be a more productive use of the space, as the shopping centre had become run down with lots of empty units. increasingly empty. Shoppers told Cambridgeshire Live that they were "sad" to see the shopping centre so empty. Maddy Richer said: "It's just sad because this is in the centre of Cambridge. "I suppose it is good for the science industry but I don't know if it has to be right in the centre of Cambridge." Locals expressed frustration that the redevelopment plan has taken so long, with the centre lying mostly empty for two years. Birmingham give update on new £3billion stadium as they announce major development Families in the area expressed concern that the science-focused redevelopment will leave the area with fewer activities for children. Kim High told the local newspaper: "It used to be a great place for families to do activities. "Things like that we will miss because there is not much else to do. "I think Cambridge is just gearing towards science and not families." With just 11 retailers left in the store, some locals said that they "don't think it is good publicity for Cambridge" and they would rather the space be put to better use. 5 5 The latest business to announce its departure from the store is cinema chain Vue, who will close this summer. The closure comes as high streets up and down the country struggle to cope with the decline in footfall since Covid. With many retailers moving online, shopping centres have seen retailers closing stores, leaving them empty and derelict. This becomes unattractive for customers, further reducing footfall and leaving councils looking for an alternative use for these vast spaces. With its university population and appeal for young people, the new development could provide exciting research and job opportunities. It does, however, mark the end of a historic building once-beloved by families for its wide range of shops and entertainment options.
