|
moderator
 offline
1 Posts |
 Posted - 05/01/2007 : 08:36:34
|
Borough set to boom following start on site for The Atrium
Released on 09 November 2006
Surrey Heath is set to benefit from millions of pounds of improvements as a result of the development of The Atrium in Camberley.
A shopmobility scheme, public art and a Town Centre Partnership initiative will all be established in Camberley, plus a parking study of the whole Borough will be undertaken in order to improve car parking over the coming months and years.
Surrey Heath Borough Council will fund the improvements using a large part of the £1,002,600 put forward by The Atrium's developer, Crest Nicholson Regeneration, through Section 106 agreements.
Currently the Council is looking into establishing an active Town Centre Partnership scheme for Camberley town centre, which will, in part, consist of the introduction of a Town Centre Manager who will work to promote Camberley as whole, co-ordinate improvements and encourage more people to shop in the town. Some of the £660,000 identified for town centre management improvements would be used to run the scheme, which would operate independently with input from retailers, The Mall and other bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce.
Enhancing the current shopmobility scheme over the next few years, to which £140,000 has been allocated, is likely to provide manual and powered wheelchairs and scooters to anyone with mobility difficulties so they can take advantage of Camberley's excellent shopping and leisure facilities.
In addition to this, the section 106 monies has made provision for £60,000 of new public art for the town with features to draw people into the town centre from the A30.
£50,000 has been allocated towards a study of park and ride possibilities for Camberley town centre and the implementation of any recommendations from this study.
In addition to the park and ride study, the Council will be undertaking a strategic review of current parking provision and needs across the whole Borough, including the town centre. The Council is also currently working to release spare parking capacity in empty office buildings in the town centre to help ease parking during the Christmas shopping period.
Crest will also fund £4,649,900 of enhancements to roads, transport and travel in Camberley, including a Real Time Passenger Transport Information System, which will tell people the time to expect the next bus, and highway improvements on and around the various junctions of the A30.
Borough Council Corporate Portfolio Holder Cllr Richard Brooks, who oversees Camberley Town Centre, said: "The Atrium is set to revitalise the whole of Surrey Heath. The parking survey will pinpoint the needs of the Borough as a whole, however, it also looks to find ways to make parking in Camberley as easy as possible so people are drawn to the town to see what it has to offer."
He continued: "Introducing an enhanced shopmobility scheme aims to make Camberley's shops and attractions accessible to all and it is hoped a management system will enhance the town further."
As part of this process, the freehold of two blocks of properties, 48 Park Street and 54 - 56 Park Street have been transferred to the Council at no cost and have been included in the development.
In addition to the infrastructure improvements, The Atrium will bring a cinema, bowling, restaurants and a range of new shops to Camberley in addition to 217 new apartments.
Construction work began on site within the past month and during the construction period the Borough Council will receive £800,000 per annum in licence fees of the retail/leisure element. Once The Atrium is open the Council will receive 10 per cent of the commercial rent roll, which will be a guaranteed minimum of £800,000 per year for 10 years. The first retail outlets are due to be open for Christmas 2007.
http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/news/news.htm?mode=10&pk_news=360
|
|
Borough set to boom...
