7/7/2009 Morpeth town centre redevelopment

A C Liani (Yorkshire) Limited are assisting the Developers behind Morpeth´s exciting and long awaited new Sanderson Arcade town centre scheme.

Sanderson Arcade will bring a new commercial heart to Northumberland´s thriving county town. The £32 million (90,000 sqft) master-planned scheme incorporates an elegant new-build shopping arcade, a landscaped piazza, a new bus interchange and additional short and long stay car parking.

Work started on the development in July 2008 and the first phase, delivering the primary retail outlets, offices, and a bus interchange has now been completed. Dransfield Properties Ltd and Ethel Austin Properties Ltd are working together on the scheme to redevelop the Sanderson Arcade and Back Riggs Shopping Centre in Morpeth. Known as the Gateway to Northumberland, Morpeth is an ancient market town less than 20 miles from Newcastle, and easily accessible by the A1.

A C Liani (in conjunction with WCEC Architects and Architectural Design Solutions) is helping the developer to relocate the Morpeth Comrades Social Club and Institute, a long-established local club with substantial facilities including function room, lounge bar, games room and sundry facilities, so that the existing club can be redeveloped in harmony with the adjacent town centre scheme.

The ‘new´ Morpeth Comrades Club will incorporate modern facilities, and an interior scheme to provide a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere for the regulars at the club.

Mark Dransfield, Managing Director of Dransfield Properties Ltd, said: “We are . . . . looking forward to delivering a fantastic scheme in the town. We have worked closely with the local authority and local stakeholders to ensure we can bring forward a development that the whole town can be proud of.”

The overall development has been drawn up in conjunction with urban design specialists and English Heritage to retain historical features and ensure the new buildings are in keeping with Morpeth's character.

Cllr Peter Jackson, Chairman of Castle Morpeth, said: "As Leader of Castle Morpeth Borough Council I am delighted that this project is commencing. It has taken years of hard work from all partners to bring our plans to fruition, but this development marks a whole new age for Morpeth town, and exciting times ahead with real possibilities for the local economy."