Revised plans for Leamington shopping centre revealed

We revealed in the Courier last week that developer Wilson Bowden - which has worked with Warwick District Council on the project since 2007 - had reached an advanced stage with the project.

This week it said revised designs for the 21,500sqm Clarendon Arcade shopping centre include 35 to 40 shops, a 512-space car park and could create 700 to 750 jobs.

Planning director David Ward says it is in “advanced” negotiations with an unnamed tenant for the shopping centre’s ‘anchor’ store.

Mr Ward added the new plans, designed by Royals Priors shopping centre architects Chapman Taylor, take into account concerns over traffic and aesthetics.

Mr Ward said: “We’ve come up with a scheme that genuinely meets the needs of the town, both in terms of its historic importance and the retail vitality and viability that are critical to make this work.”

The council’s economic development and regeneration manager Joe Baconnet said Leamington needed flexible, modern new shops to keep pace with rivals Solihull and Stratford.

• See Friday’s Courier for more about the proposals.