Stoke shopping centre to be downsized

Plans for a shopping centre development in Stoke-on-Trent are to be "downsized", developers have confirmed, after

a report commissioned by the local council found that the current retail market could not "support the proposed development".

Realis Estates, which is handling the development, were granted planning permission for a 650,000 square foot site in Hanley in 2011 to extend the City Sentral shopping centre, but that contract expired in February.

The report, written by retail consultants WYG, said the scale of the proposed scheme needed to "better reflect current market conditions" and that it must be “comprehensively reviewed” due to the economic downturn and the rise of online shopping.

WYG also had concerns that Marks & Spencer, the ‘anchor tenant’ of City Sentral, would not remain in the shopping centre because it was planning to build a new store three miles away at Wolstanton Retail Park.

Responding to the report, managing director of Realis Estates, Duncan Mathieson said: “We are working with [Stoke-on-Trent city] council on a reduced size scheme which we will update you on and release as soon as we can.”