St Modwen secures anchor tenant for Skelmersdale
ST MODWEN has signed up Reel Cinemas as the anchor tenant at its Skelmersdale town centre regeneration project.
The developer has been working on the plans for several years and says the 50,000 sq ft scheme could create around 500 jobs.
A rival cinema plan for the town, which has a population of about 40,000, is being worked up by London and Cambridge Properties (LCP) and Threadneedle Investments at the nearby Concourse Shopping Centre.
St Modwen has outline planning for its scheme but has submitted revised plans becuase it wants to reduce the 30,000 sq ft supermarket element.
Project director Paul Batho said: “Securing our anchor leisure tenant is a vital step forwards in delivering the long-awaited transformation of Skelmersdale and demonstrates growing market confidence. We have had planning permission for a scheme that includes a cinema since 2012 and our current application is a revision to those existing proposals to ensure that the scheme meets current market requirements.
“Our scheme will bring essential leisure and retail facilities to the town, as well as £10m investment. With an anchor tenant in place, work could start as early as next year subject to securing planning consent.”
KC Suri, managing director of Reel Cinema, said: “Our new cinema in Skelmersdale will provide six screens showing all the latest blockbuster releases and a full range of children’s programmes.”
