Surrey Quays Shopping Centre

Not to be confused with Surrey Quays.
Surrey Quays Shopping Centre
Opening date July 1988[1]
Management Surrey Quays Limited [2]
Owner British Land [3]
No. of stores and services 43
No. of anchor tenants 1 Tesco)
Total retail floor area 309,000 square feet (28,700 m2)[2]
No. of floors 2
Parking 1,300 [4]
Public transit access Canada Water station
Surrey Quays station
Website

Surrey Quays Shopping Centre is a shopping centre located in Rotherhithe, London. It is currently owned by British Land.

The centre opened in July 1988 following years of development by the London Docklands Development Corporation in the London Docklands and surrounding areas. The centre has over 40 stores including Tesco, 1,300 parking spaces and a food court.

Improvements in the local transport links and rise in local housing developments in recent years have given local consumers easier access to the centre.

British Land plan to redevelop the centre and the surrounding areas over the next few years, adding retail space, extensions and a number of new dwellings.

History

The site on which the centre is built was originally a dock. However as the majority of Surrey Docks ship yards closed in the early 1970s, due to a general decline, the land was left abandoned and the docks filled in.[5] It was not until the London Docklands Development Corporation began to redevelop the area that the land found a new lease of life. See Surrey Commercial Docks

Construction of the centre began in late 1985, and was completed in time for a July 1988 opening. At the same time new housing was being constructed in the surrounding area which ensured a steady influx of customers.

At the time of opening, the area was originally known as Surrey Docks, however this was changed to Surrey Quays much to the anger of local residents. The area in still referred to as Surrey Docks by many of the local residents and the old name can still be seen on a few road signs in the area.

In 1998 a leisure park was opened adjacent to the centre, facility's include an Odeon (UCI at the time) Cinema, Hollywood Bowl, and a number of restaurants.[6]

Present day

The dolphin sculpture and fountain prior to removal. Main concourse area.

The centre has not changed much from its original construction. An extension was added to the Tesco store in 2008, and a fountain which used to lie in the main concourse of the centre featuring a Dolphin sculpture by David Backhouse was removed in the early 2000s to make way for a new seating and sale area.[7]

Transport

The centre is in close proximity to Canada Water Underground station which serves the Jubilee line and London Overground's East London Line. Canada Water also has a bus station which allows access to a number of London bus routes. The centre has its own bus stops and most local bus routes stop here either before or after serving Canada Water.

Surrey Quays Station is also close by which serves London Overground's East London Line.

The centre has a mini cab rank and a large car park.

Redevelopment

An impression of what the centre may look like once extensions are completed. - 2012 Design

In 2009, British Land bought out Tesco's 50% stake in the centre. (The centre was originally owned by British Land and Tesco)

British Land in a joint venture with Tesco (Surrey Quays Limited) plans to redevelop the centre over the next few years. The centre is to have a 100,000 sq ft extension built, while the existing infrastructure will undergo a major refurbishment. The surrounding area and the center's facade will also be significantly improved, including new public spaces, easy routes to transport links and larger parking areas. The nearby leisure park will also be included in these works as will the shop fronts along the river featuring the Decathlon stores.[8]

Commencement of these works is due to start in the near future. Planning permission has been granted by Southwark Council for the initial phase with further plans currently being reviewed.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "LDDC Completion Booklet". London Docklands Development Corporation. 20 December 1996.
  2. 1 2 3 "£30m Investment in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre Given the Go Ahead". Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "British Land full ownership of Surrey Quays". Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "What are the centre car park opening hours?". Surreyquaysshoppingcentre.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "LDDC Completion Booklet - Surrey Docks". Lddc-history.org.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  6. ↑ the url, surrey quays. "Surrey Quays - Home". Surrey-quays.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Bronze Sculpture:- By Oscar Nemon". Tedknell.co.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "British Land to start on £38m Surrey Quays refurb". Constructionenquirer.com. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
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