Investment pumped into retail and leisure destination

A major programme of investment is being made in facilities and infrastructure at the Flemingate centre in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

Wykeland Group, owner and developer of the retail and leisure destination, has used the lockdown period to introduce improvements to enhance the experience for customers and to support businesses as they resume trading.

The £70,000 programme of upgrades includes expanding the click and collect facility to the rear of the Debenhams store, from six to 16 parking spaces, making it even easier and more convenient for shoppers to collect purchases from retailers on site.

The expanded facility will feature automatic number plate recognition allowing shoppers to park for free for a maximum of 30 minutes as they collect online purchases.

Flemingate’s play park has also been doubled in size, with the addition of a new play wall and other equipment, as well as an extension to the fencing around the area.

COVID-19 safety signage, social distancing floor vinyls and marker strips have been introduced across the site as well as 30 hand sanitiser stations at key locations, to underline that Flemingate is a safe place to visit.

The centre has undergone a comprehensive cleaning programme and a new regime has been introduced, including additional disinfecting three times a day to stairwell banisters, pay stations, entrance barrier buttons, communal door handles and other surfaces.

There has also been a comprehensive programme of painting and refurbishment, including of all seating and street furniture.

Plans are in place to extend outdoor seating areas for the centre’s restaurants, cafés and bars, to enable them to accommodate the need for social distancing and waiting areas when they re-open.

David Donkin, property director of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “Rather than react to these unprecedented times by retrenching, we have decided to continue to invest and make Flemingate an even more attractive, safe, convenient and welcoming place to shop and spend leisure time.

“We have seen this period as a time to make further improvements that will benefit members of the public and all the businesses across the centre, now and over the long term.

“We’ve given the centre a thorough makeover, with the safety of customers very much to the fore.

“It all means Flemingate is ahead of the game as retail, leisure and office operators within the Flemingate community re-open progressively over coming weeks.”

As well as shops Flemingate, which opened in November 2015, is home to the East Riding College campus, an 80-bed Premier Inn hotel and a six-screen Parkway digital cinema.