£10m shopping development given the go ahead

DEVELOPERS have been granted planning permission to carry out a £10m refurbishment of a Warwickshire shopping centre – although work won’t start on the new scheme for some time.

Warwick District Council has given the go ahead to Cobalt Estates, working in association with developers Discovery Properties, for the work to the north side of Talisman shopping centre in Kenilworth.

The development consists of five new retail units at ground floor level – comprising 13,000 sq ft – and 105 student apartments above.

The units will be developed on a site which is currently used as a temporary car park.

Hugo Hawkings, chief executive of Discovery Properties, said he was delighted to secure planning permission for the re-development.  

He did, however, advise that the works might not begin imminently, due to delays during the planning process.

“We are delighted to have been granted planning consent to continue our investment in the development of Talisman,” he said.

“Developing the north side of the centre has been an important part of our long-term vision for Talisman and will bring multiple benefits to Kenilworth, including new retailers, jobs and wealth to the town and the surrounding area.

“We had hoped to gain planning consent a bit earlier in the year with a view to completing the development in time for the academic year starting in September 2018. Delays during the planning process mean we are now unlikely to be able to meet this date.”

He said the situation would be reviewed in the New Year with a view to scheduling a development which could be completed in time for the start of the September 2019 academic year.

Talisman shopping centre includes major retailers such as WHSmith, Waitrose, Costa, Boots and a range of independent traders.

Discovery has said it will update the public when work might start.