Carillion completes Westwood Cross five months early

15/08/2005

Support services and construction company Carillion has successfully handed over its Westwood Cross shopping centre development in Thanet, Kent – five months ahead of programme. The centre opened in June and has been hailed as a great success, receiving nearly 40,000 visitors on its first day of trading.

Westwood Cross is a 400,000 sq ft shopping centre developed by Carillion Richardson Partnership and built by Carillion Building. Offering a wide range of shops, it represents a multi-million pound investment in the Isle of Thanet, which comprises the seaside towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.

Carillion Building operations director Simon Webb said: “Carillion and Richardsons have been working together for over 20 years, and the great success of this project was down to the excellent relationships and teamwork at all levels. The project team carried out lots of community initiatives including visits to schools and apprentice training. We also had a Job Centre set up in the site office, providing employment opportunities for local residents. Westwood Cross shopping centre has created 1,500 new jobs and will provide a major boost to the local economy.”

Carillion Building began work on site in December 2003 with both the demolition of the old Haine Hospital and the relocation and construction of a new ambulance station. Much of the demolition material such as roof tiles, bricks and timber was salvaged and all concrete was crushed for re-use. On-site soil remediation eliminated the need for imported aggregates and the removal of spoil from site, resulting in an estimated 3,000 saved lorry trips to and from the site.

The centre superstructure is constructed from a steel frame clad in brick and block, resin render, with glass and traditional Kent-style cedar cladding. The scheme was conceptualised to be sympathetic to its surroundings and in keeping with the area’s strong nautical traditions. Carillion gave tenants early access to retail units to carry out their fit-out works, allowing the opening date to be moved forward from November to June.

Management of the centre is being undertaken by Carillion Services, which was awarded the three-year contract in June. Services provided by Carillion include cleaning, security, building and landscape maintenance, and service charge management.

Westwood Cross is anchored by a state-of-the-art Debenhams, Next, Marks & Spencer and TK Maxx, and offers a full range of fashion and lifestyle stores. Carillion Richardson Partnership has worked hard to create a modern shopping environment that stands as an elegant retail destination and contributes to the improvement of the landscape. The centre is the keystone in the regeneration plans for the Isle of Thanet, convincing a whole host of top name brands to have a presence in the area.