Warner Estate, owner of the Hale Leys Shopping Centre, is pleased to announce Debenhams as the anchor store of the proposed multi million pound Waterside Shopping scheme in Aylesbury. The market leading fashion, beauty and homewares brand will open a three-storey department store, helping to secure a prosperous town centre for Aylesbury and providing choice for residents of the town and the surrounding area.
The letting to Debenhams is a great achievement for the Waterside Shopping project, which Warner Estate is delivering in partnership with Aylesbury Vale District Council. An integral part of the wider Waterside regeneration scheme, the retail project involves the redevelopment of land adjacent to Warner Estate's Hale Leys Shopping Centre that will shape Aylesbury's retail future.
Dan Howson, Senior Development Manager at Warner Estate comments: “We have now achieved one of our major objectives, to secure our first-choice department store for the heart of the project. Debenhams is a highly desirable
brand and their commitment to Aylesbury is a tremendous endorsement of both the town and the Waterside project. In particular it gives the strongest indication of what we can achieve in Aylesbury with the right retailers to enhance the town's offer. Our team, with the support and commitment of Aylesbury Vale District Council, continues to progress the proposals, utilising the response to our public consultation.”
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of Aylesbury Vale District Council comments: “Debenhams' commitment is a real boost for the town and is testament to the hard work, shared vision and commitment of our team and that of our Development Partner, Warner Estate. With the theatre construction now well underway as part of the wider Waterside regeneration scheme we are well on the way to transforming Aylesbury into one of the region’s most vibrant places to live, work and shop.”
Waterside Shopping will deliver a high-quality shopping environment to maximise Aylesbury's potential to attract visitors, as well as helping to stop the leakage of trade to nearby towns. The project will provide a much-needed critical mass of retail by introducing between 25 and 30 new shops and a food store, as well as approximately 650 car parking spaces. The town's evening economy will also get a long awaited boost with more restaurants, cafes and bars set in a bright and friendly environment. An estimated 500 jobs will be created during the construction of the project and 1,200 long term jobs on completion which will be of major economic benefit to the town and the area as a whole.
The professional team at Warner Estate continues to work on the detailed plans and designs with a planning application expected later this year.
