the times | Tuesday November 27 2012
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Business Insight COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL REPORT: REPORT: BRAEHEAD BRAEHEAD SHOPPING SHOPPING CENTRE CENTRE
A catalyst for regeneration W HAT was once a run-down HAT was once a run-down and redundant industrial and redundant industrial landscape is now a vibrant landscape is now a vibrant economic powerhouse economic powerhouse pouring millions of pounds pouring millions of pounds into the West of Scotland into the West of Scotland economy and beyond. economy and beyond. But all this would not have been possible withBut all this would not have been possible without the catalyst that sparked this regeneration and out the catalyst that sparked this regeneration and transformation – Braehead Shopping Centre. transformation – Braehead Shopping Centre. Since the shopping centre opened in 1999, it Since the shopping centre opened in 1999, it has been the means of the regeneration of the has been the means of the regeneration of the River Clyde waterfront from the King George V River Clyde waterfront from the King George V Docks to Renfrew Ferry. Docks to Renfrew Ferry. The numbers are impressive and speak for The numbers are impressive and speak for themselves. So far, Braehead has – themselves. So far, Braehead has – • brought £600 million of private investment to • brought £600 million of private investment to Renfrewshire; Renfrewshire; • supports a total of 6,870 jobs, which is nine per • supports a total of 6,870 jobs, which is nine per cent of everyone employed in Renfrewshire; cent of everyone employed in Renfrewshire; • and provides £88 million a year in wages paid • and provides £88 million a year in wages paid to people who work there or supply goods and to people who work there or supply goods and services to the Braehead development. services to the Braehead development. This money – ‘The Braehead Pound’ – is spent This money – ‘The Braehead Pound’ – is spent in local shops throughout the neighbouring towns in local shops throughout the neighbouring towns and villages where Braehead workers live, helping and villages where Braehead workers live, helping trade thrive in local communities. trade thrive in local communities. Braehead is a success story for Renfrewshire Braehead is a success story for Renfrewshire having created a mixed-use development that having created a mixed-use development that attracts millions of people to Renfrewshire every attracts millions of people to Renfrewshire every year. Braehead is the giant magnet for people year. Braehead is the giant magnet for people from outside the area that other towns and from outside the area that other towns and villages locally can feed off by providing complevillages locally can feed off by providing complementary attractions in retail, leisure and business. mentary attractions in retail, leisure and business. Braehead has also created business parks with Braehead has also created business parks with office space, hotels and commercial centres that office space, hotels and commercial centres that are home to top-brand names such as Audi, Porare home to top-brand names such as Audi, Porcelanosa, Porsche, Nissan Infiniti and Campbell celanosa, Porsche, Nissan Infiniti and Campbell Dallas. Dallas. Leisure facilities at Braehead now include Leisure facilities at Braehead now include Xscape - which hosts Scotland’s first indoor real Xscape - which hosts Scotland’s first indoor real snow mountain for skiers and snowboarders and snow mountain for skiers and snowboarders and a multi-screen cinema - a seven-acre public park, a multi-screen cinema - a seven-acre public park, curling rink and the 4,000-seater sports and entercurling rink and the 4,000-seater sports and entertainment venue, Braehead Arena. tainment venue, Braehead Arena. Mindful of the importance of public transport, Mindful of the importance of public transport, Braehead built its own bus station with more than Braehead built its own bus station with more than 1,000 arrivals and departures every day. 1,000 arrivals and departures every day. There are also 2,000 homes being built – many There are also 2,000 homes being built – many already completed and families moved in. already completed and families moved in. And once the housing development around And once the housing development around Braehead has been completed the new commuBraehead has been completed the new community living at Braehead will be approximately the nity living at Braehead will be approximately the same size as the Royal Burgh of Auchterarder, in same size as the Royal Burgh of Auchterarder, in Perthshire. Perthshire. A report by the Templeton College of the UniA report by the Templeton College of the University of Oxford and economic experts, Nathanversity of Oxford and economic experts, Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners described Braehead as a iel Lichfield and Partners described Braehead as a “major economic stimulus” to Renfrewshire. “major economic stimulus” to Renfrewshire. Braehead’s general manager Peter Beagley said: Braehead’s general manager Peter Beagley said: “The benefits of Braehead are not just to the “The benefits of Braehead are not just to the people who come to do their shopping or to enjoy people who come to do their shopping or to enjoy our leisure facilities. our leisure facilities. “The real benefits come from what Braehead “The real benefits come from what Braehead has gone on to create in terms of bringing new has gone on to create in terms of bringing new businesses to Renfrewshire, the thousands of jobs businesses to Renfrewshire, the thousands of jobs it has created and the boost to the economy of it has created and the boost to the economy of Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland.” Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland.” Hundreds of millions of pounds in private Hundreds of millions of pounds in private investment may already have gone into creating investment may already have gone into creating Braehead as it is today. But it doesn’t stop there. Braehead as it is today. But it doesn’t stop there. There’s even more good news to come, says There’s even more good news to come, says Beagley as he speaks about the plans for BraeBeagley as he speaks about the plans for Braehead’s owners Capital Shopping Centres to invest head’s owners Capital Shopping Centres to invest a further £200 million in the development and a further £200 million in the development and create thousands more jobs in Renfrewshire and create thousands more jobs in Renfrewshire and beyond. beyond. The company has lodged a Proposal of ApThe company has lodged a Proposal of Application Notice with Renfrewshire Council, plication Notice with Renfrewshire Council, which indicates its intention to submit a planning which indicates its intention to submit a planning application for permission in principle to build application for permission in principle to build new leisure, community and retail facilities at the new leisure, community and retail facilities at the shopping centre. shopping centre.
Artist’s impression of the new civic square at Braehead Artist’s impression of the new civic square at Braehead The proposals include a significant boost The proposals include a significant boost to public transport with the creation of a new to public transport with the creation of a new integrated transport interchange for buses and to integrated transport interchange for buses and to facilitate the new Fastlink service, which is hoped facilitate the new Fastlink service, which is hoped will extend from the south side of Glasgow to will extend from the south side of Glasgow to Braehead and Renfrew. Braehead and Renfrew. It is expected that the planning application, It is expected that the planning application, including proposals for a department store, will be including proposals for a department store, will be lodged in the near future. lodged in the near future. There are also plans to build a new replacement There are also plans to build a new replacement arena for ice and dry sports events, concerts, other arena for ice and dry sports events, concerts, other entertainment shows, exhibitions and conferentertainment shows, exhibitions and conferences; a hotel, cafes, restaurants and a new civic ences; a hotel, cafes, restaurants and a new civic square. square. Beagley continues: “Braehead Shopping Centre Beagley continues: “Braehead Shopping Centre has been a key part of the local community and has been a key part of the local community and the wider Renfrewshire area for the past 13 years the wider Renfrewshire area for the past 13 years and we are keen to continue our investment for and we are keen to continue our investment for the benefit of the area and indeed Scotland. the benefit of the area and indeed Scotland. “Our investment will create much-needed “Our investment will create much-needed jobs for local people and deliver a wider choice jobs for local people and deliver a wider choice of retail and leisure for our customers, as well as of retail and leisure for our customers, as well as significant improvements to public transport and significant improvements to public transport and public space.” public space.” He added: “These proposals will see a huge He added: “These proposals will see a huge amount of private investment coming into amount of private investment coming into Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland. With Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland. With this multi-million pound investment comes the this multi-million pound investment comes the welcome bonus of employment with up to 2,000 welcome bonus of employment with up to 2,000 construction jobs – including apprenticeships for construction jobs – including apprenticeships for young people - and more than 3,000 direct and young people - and more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in leisure and retail when the extenindirect jobs in leisure and retail when the extension is completed. sion is completed. “We are very keen to make sure as many local “We are very keen to make sure as many local people as possible benefit from these jobs and people as possible benefit from these jobs and with approval for the project, we will set up a Jobs with approval for the project, we will set up a Jobs Shop on site for people to apply for the work that Shop on site for people to apply for the work that will become available.” will become available.” Beagley sees the investment proposal as BraeBeagley sees the investment proposal as Brae-
head giving a further boost to the Renfrewshire head giving a further boost to the Renfrewshire and Scottish economy, creating more jobs in a and Scottish economy, creating more jobs in a time of economic downturn. time of economic downturn. “It also creates a confidence among large com“It also creates a confidence among large companies that they can do business in Scotland and panies that they can do business in Scotland and shows that economic growth can be achieved,” shows that economic growth can be achieved,” he says. he says. “It sends out a positive message about Ren“It sends out a positive message about Renfrewshire and Scotland and shows we can buck frewshire and Scotland and shows we can buck the present economic trends and attract new and the present economic trends and attract new and
large-scale investment. large-scale investment. “Our plans for Braehead can make this part of “Our plans for Braehead can make this part of the Clyde an exemplar of Scotland’s sustainable the Clyde an exemplar of Scotland’s sustainable mixed-use economy of business, retail, leisure and mixed-use economy of business, retail, leisure and residential developments. residential developments. “A new and expanded Braehead would “A new and expanded Braehead would give Renfrewshire and Scotland a world-class, give Renfrewshire and Scotland a world-class, mixed-use, sustainable and community developmixed-use, sustainable and community development that includes retail, leisure, business and ment that includes retail, leisure, business and residential.” residential.”
Expansion gets public vote of confidence THE proposal to invest a further THE proposal to invest a further £200 million and create 5,000 £200 million and create 5,000 jobs at Braehead has been jobs at Braehead has been welcomed. welcomed. More than 800 people More than 800 people completed a questionnaire completed a questionnaire card during a two-day card during a two-day public consultation and the public consultation and the overwhelming majority were in overwhelming majority were in favour of the proposals. favour of the proposals. Braehead’s general manager, Braehead’s general manager, Peter Beagley said: “As part of Peter Beagley said: “As part of a public consultation process a public consultation process prior to us submitting a planning prior to us submitting a planning application in principle to build application in principle to build new leisure and retail facilities new leisure and retail facilities at Braehead, we held a two-day at Braehead, we held a two-day exhibition in the mall. exhibition in the mall. “This allowed the public to see “This allowed the public to see exactly what our proposals are, exactly what our proposals are, the benefits to Renfrewshire, the benefits to Renfrewshire, including thousands of new jobs including thousands of new jobs and for us to hear the views of the and for us to hear the views of the
public on our plans. public on our plans. “More than 800 people “More than 800 people completed a questionnaire card completed a questionnaire card and the overwhelming majority and the overwhelming majority were in favour of our proposals. were in favour of our proposals. A more detailed analysis on the A more detailed analysis on the consultation will be included in consultation will be included in our planning application.” our planning application.” He added: “We have also He added: “We have also had support for our proposals had support for our proposals from Renfrewshire Chamber from Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce who understand of Commerce who understand and appreciate the importance and appreciate the importance of investment and employment of investment and employment opportunities we would bring to opportunities we would bring to the area. the area. “Braehead can create the “Braehead can create the wealth that comes with providing wealth that comes with providing thousands of people with a job thousands of people with a job and a wage at the end of each and a wage at the end of each month that can help rejuvenate month that can help rejuvenate local towns and villages in local towns and villages in Renfrewshire.” Renfrewshire.”
Peter Beagley, Peter Beagley, Braehead’s general Braehead’s general manager manager