Booths Poulton makeover progressing
The first phase of the £19m refurbishment of the Teanlowe Centre is now well underway with the interior of the shopping mall nearing completion.
Eric Wright Construction, the main contractor on the project, is now about to embark upon the installation of the Market Square glazed elevation and entrance which will mark the completion of the eastern end of the shopping mall. New brick and glass architecture will replace the tired 1970s facade.
Booths will relocate from its 20,000 sq ft store in the town centre to the new 34,000 sq ft supermarket in the Teanlowe Centre.
Completion of the Market Place Mall will enable the tenants previously displaced to come back into the Teanlowe Centre with upgraded and improved shops. This includes Bodycare (Health & Beauty), known locally as Grahams, Poulton Optical Centre and Homecare Walkabout.
Completion of the Market Place Mall will enable the next phase to commence, which is the demolition of the Blackpool Old Road Mall. The Co-operative Food has already closed down and WHSmith will be doing so shortly. Demolition work is due to commence early in September.
A new temporary entrance from the Teanlowe Centre to the Market Place Mall will be created, maintaining access for shoppers and it is intended that this access will remain in place throughout the demolition and reconstruction works.
At the same time, re-surfacing and upgrading of the Teanlowe car park will commence with a view to this work being completed at the end of the year and before other associated road works, including the Hardhorn Link Road, are started, thereby minimising disruption to traffic movements in the town centre.
Planning consultancy, Steven Abbott Associates, advised Booths. The new store was designed by Leach Rhodes Walker Architects. The commercial agent for Booths was Robert Pinkus & Co.
