WREXHAM’S Eagles Meadow shopping complex has been held up as shining example of how to beat the gloom of the recession.
In its new report, 21st Century High Streets: A new vision for our town centres, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) highlights the success of the £100 million development, which includes large stores such as M&S and Debenhams, along with a bowling alley and multi-screen cinema.
The report looks at how Eagles Meadow was developed to help prevent shoppers being lured away to neighbouring towns and cities. Ambitions to create a new shopping area were triggered several years ago when studies showed the town was “leaking” high street spend to its competitors. The project began when the Asda supermarket relocated to another site, freeing up a council-owned eight-acre plot for redevelopment. The new shopping centre opened in autumn last year with the recession just starting to bite. Yet the BRC report says: “Six months after opening, the town centre is vibrant and busy, with high footfall and spend.” Cllr Rodney Skelland, Wrexham Council’s lead member for regeneration and corporate governance, said: “It’s good to see Wrexham being cited as an example to other towns on how to tackle retail issues. "The council and its partners recognised the need to create new retail space that would attract new stores and existing stores.”
The British Retail Consortium is a trade body that represents and supports retailers across the UK.
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