Following recent press reports that H&M is coming to Parkway – Standard Life Investments can now confirm that the top fashion retailer has signed up for a 21,500 sq ft unit. H&M joins anchor store Debenhams and M&S at the 475,000 sq ft scheme, which is one of only three developments set to open in 2011.
A spokesperson for H&M commented “H&M is pleased to confirm that we have signed up to open in Standard Life Investments’ Parkway development in Newbury.
The store is scheduled to open in 2011 and we are very much looking forward to bringing our business concept of fashion and quality at the best price to Newbury – we hope that our arrival will be well received by local residents”
Standard Life Investments added “Our leasing strategy for Parkway has always been to secure tenants for the larger units, before starting discussions with occupiers for the standard units.
“Debenhams and M&S are in place as our major anchor stores, H&M has now taken one of the two large stores and we are in advanced negotiations with a major retailer for the other large unit – which fits in with this strategy.”
This is very good news. I can't wait to hear of more stores that we don't have already
I presume these stores offer unique enterprising merchandise that will make all this worth while. Hopefully, it will be very popular and we can glean all the lovely pollution and traffic it would offer.
Driving to Reading/Basingstoke, where these stores are now located, would cause far more pollution.
Not in concentration it wont. Cars stationary in traffic is more damaging than a car travelling at reasonable speed. Our roundabouts are all ready above EU standards for air pollution. This might just make it worse.
Not in concentration it wont. Cars stationary in traffic is more damaging than a car travelling at reasonable speed. Our roundabouts are all ready above EU standards for air pollution. This might just make it worse.
Do get real, we have a shopping centre coming on line, we want people to come to our town to spend money here and provide jobs and as a spin off add to local income. WBC however must plan for the increased traffic flows that their project will invite so they need to come up and very quickly, with a few infra structure improvements which are a little more sophisticated than closing the parkway bridge to private cars.
Do get real, we have a shopping centre coming on line, we want people to come to our town to spend money here and provide jobs and as a spin off add to local income.
Well I don't want to see a ferkin shopping mall! And all the ferkin traffic and all the ferkin pollution and all the ferkin in fill, etc..! And the last time I looked Newbury has some of the lowest unemployment figures around.
WBC however must plan for the increased traffic flows that their project will invite so they need to come up and very quickly, with a few infra structure improvements which are a little more sophisticated than closing the parkway bridge to private cars.
Sorry to break the bad news, it IS happening. Get over it.
We are not getting a shopping mall we are getting additional streets of shops.
"A shopping mall or shopping centre is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area – a modern, indoor version of the traditional marketplace."
All of the new shops will be in streets open to the elements. This is what will make Newbury so different to other towns. You will get wet going from shop to shop when it is raining.
Sorry to break the bad news, it IS happening. Get over it.
I'd say you should get over the fact that some people, like me, are not obsessed with ferkin shopping at the weekend and resent what has happened in this regard! This is also a forum where people are encouraged and entitled to express opinions...and that is what I am doing. Belittling people like me, in the way you posted ( ) will only open up a potential flame war! And short of my getting a ban, you will lose!
All of the new shops will be in streets open to the elements. This is what will make Newbury so different to other towns. You will get wet going from shop to shop when it is raining.
This from the chairman of the Newbury Retailer's association. What a way to encourage people to shop in Newbury.
This from the chairman of the Newbury Retailer's association. What a way to encourage people to shop in Newbury.
Since you bring it up I don't understand how he manages to stay in that role when he generally seems to put down the town and discourage people from coming here and spending their money, at every opportunity?
I'm sure he must do more than discourage trade and generally insult the town in the media, but I've not seen any evidence of it. Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places though.
This from the chairman of the Newbury Retailer's association. What a way to encourage people to shop in Newbury.
Surely the blame for this must rest with the architect? In 2003 we had the chance of a proper shopping mall in Park Way of more moderate proportions, and it was expandable. The other thing about this proposal was that if it had been given planning permission, it would have been open for Christmas 2005. This means that we would have been enjoying the facilities for the last 5 years instead of having to wait while the heart and soul has been ripped out of the centre of Newbury with endless road closures and diversions and the loss of over 600 car parking spaces.
All of the new shops will be in streets open to the elements. This is what will make Newbury so different to other towns. You will get wet going from shop to shop when it is raining.
So they don't get wet going from shop to shop in other towns? Millions of shops throughout the world are in streets open to the elements and it doesn't seem to be a problem. Perhaps you should take a unit there and open an umbrella shop
Surely the blame for this must rest with the architect? In 2003 we had the chance of a proper shopping mall in Park Way of more moderate proportions, and it was expandable. The other thing about this proposal was that if it had been given planning permission, it would have been open for Christmas 2005. This means that we would have been enjoying the facilities for the last 5 years instead of having to wait while the heart and soul has been ripped out of the centre of Newbury with endless road closures and diversions and the loss of over 600 car parking spaces.
Well, I do agree that Newbury is a bit of a mess at the moment, but how do you propose to build a new street of shops without making a mess in the process? Also, Had this or similar been done in 2005 there would have been an equivilent amount of disruption and mess during that construction phase, regardless of when it was done.
I would also have thought that the current plan of a new street of uncovered walkways is more sympathetic to the existing town centre shops than a covered shopping mall. As you so rightly point out, if it rains people will get wet wherever they go, but if Parkway was a covered, self enclosed shopping mall in the style of The Oracle or Festival Place, then people would just stay inside the covered mall when it rains and not bother to go out to the other shops.
What a way to encourage people to shop in Newbury.
What, pointing out they're going to get wet when it rains as opposed to letting them find out for themselves? It's hardly BBs' fault that the powers that be decided not to put a lid on it and thus leave it open to the elements is it?
After all the subterfuge and duplicitousness that's gone on in some quarters, it's good to see someone 'telling it like it actually is' isn't it?
It's quite simple....."Come shopping in Newbury, but if it's raining, bring a brolly." What's wrong with that?
I'm not quite sure of the nomenclature but much of Festival Place, or the older part of Basingstoke's indoor shopping centre, was open to the rain when it was built. And a miserable concrete hell it was too. Roofing it in hasn't made it much better
Andover has also roofed in its small 60s shopping development.
The whole Park Way debacle has been dragging on needlessly for years.
We now have a similar situation with the pavilion in the park. If West Bershire had not interfered, Newbury Town Council could have been awarded a lottery grant 2 years ago. We could have replaced the ramshackle buildings in the MIDDLE with a proper cafeteria and changing facilities and tarted up the rest of the park. Again, we could probably have been enjoying those facilities this summer. Instead the pavilion saga will probably drag on for another couple of years, before West Berkshire overides public opinion and builds this wretched structure. The pavilion will be built, but we will probably have to wait until 2015 before it is completed.
I'm not quite sure of the nomenclature but much of Festival Place, or the older part of Basingstoke's indoor shopping centre, was open to the rain when it was built.
For those old enough to remember, the original Kennet Centre was open to the elements.
What, pointing out they're going to get wet when it rains as opposed to letting them find out for themselves? It's hardly BBs' fault that the powers that be decided not to put a lid on it and thus leave it open to the elements is it?
After all the subterfuge and duplicitousness that's gone on in some quarters, it's good to see someone 'telling it like it actually is' isn't it?
It's quite simple....."Come shopping in Newbury, but if it's raining, bring a brolly." What's wrong with that?
Threep.
The point was that, as the chairman of the NRA and someone whose job it is to represent the retailers of Newbury, Brian doesn't appear to go out of his way to encourage people to shop here, but is often found criticising the the place rather than trying to sell it to visitors.
This is what will make Newbury so different to other towns. You will get wet going from shop to shop when it is raining.
Apart from the incorrect first sentence, it's hardly a great line from someone who is supposed to represent the retailers of Newbury is it? When this kind of thinking is displayed by the chairman of the NRA (the person the NRA members have chosen to represent them) it reflects badly on all of them.
So they don't get wet going from shop to shop in other towns? Millions of shops throughout the world are in streets open to the elements and it doesn't seem to be a problem. Perhaps you should take a unit there and open an umbrella shop
Good point, although I recall that in the Sci Fi classic Logan's Run they came up with an imaginative solution to this problem: i.e. crystal domes:
I'd say you should get over the fact that some people, like me, are not obsessed with ferkin shopping at the weekend and resent what has happened in this regard! This is also a forum where people are encouraged and entitled to express opinions...and that is what I am doing. Belittling people like me, in the way you posted ( ) will only open up a potential flame war! And short of my getting a ban, you will lose!
Merely pointing out that this is going ahead and nothing will stop it. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but you seemed, from all the f'ing, to be getting really het up. Hence the 'get over it'.
As for me losing - you could look at it that the shopping centre is going ahead, therefore I have won.
I doubt there will be any need to follow suit. Park Way is not a 'shopping centre' in the 'mall' sense of the word. I see it as an extension of the high street
The point was that, as the chairman of the NRA and someone whose job it is to represent the retailers of Newbury, Brian doesn't appear to go out of his way to encourage people to shop here, but is often found criticising the the place rather than trying to sell it to visitors.
Apart from the incorrect first sentence, it's hardly a great line from someone who is supposed to represent the retailers of Newbury is it? When this kind of thinking is displayed by the chairman of the NRA (the person the NRA members have chosen to represent them) it reflects badly on all of them.
Are you saying he shouldn't criticise WBC if he thinks they have ballsed it up? Are you another one who thinks they should be above criticism and be able to throw our money around as they wish?
Help me out here guys... is it true that this is the only shopping complex / Mall / whatever that is currently being built in the whole of western Europe?
All of the new shops will be in streets open to the elements. This is what will make Newbury so different to other towns. You will get wet going from shop to shop when it is raining.
I notice FF and the KS have latched onto this by sponsoring Newbury Sounds weather. KS for shopping whatever the weather!!
Well I don't want to see a ferkin shopping mall! And all the ferkin traffic and all the ferkin pollution and all the ferkin in fill, etc..! And the last time I looked Newbury has some of the lowest unemployment figures around.
Like you perhaps, I was totally against the oversize development that our betters felt we needed but fact of lfe, it is going ahead and is too far down the line to stop. I stood in Victoria park the other day when it was a nice sunny day and the skyline is already overpowering but it's there and it will get even more intrusive I'm sure. So, it's no good ferkin around, we need to find "Reasons to be cheerful" and get on with life. I think your belief that a shopping complex will make our ferkin pollution much worse is a bit of a red herring, whatever one of those is. We have nothing like the traffic that flows around the North Circular for instance, on its way to Ikea. Gentle winds blowing down our valley soon disperse the emissions from the local traffic. If we want lots of evening entertainment and a spin off of more good shops, we need the customers to make it worthwhile for people who want to open such establishments. Infilling and building rakes of new dwellings will bring them in by the truckload. My only hope is that WBC will have enough foresight to realise that they have started a large ball rolling and now are duty bound to make sure that we benefit rather than suffer from the extra traffic and work out how to get it all parked so that people want to come here and shop rather than going to Reading or Basingstoke. Friendly parking, not aggressive green meanie scary parking so that you spend half your time in town wondering if you read the sign correctly or if your car is so unique that it has to be photographed for posterity.
Like you perhaps, I was totally against the oversize development that our betters felt we needed but fact of lfe, it is going ahead and is too far down the line to stop.
I realise that, and I didn't think for a moment anything else.
I stood in Victoria park the other day when it was a nice sunny day and the skyline is already overpowering but it's there and it will get even more intrusive I'm sure.
Exactly, yet some people are rejoicing at this. I merely wish to post a point that is not of the the same view.
So, it's no good ferkin around, we need to find "Reasons to be cheerful" and get on with life. I think your belief that a shopping complex will make our ferkin pollution much worse is a bit of a red herring, whatever one of those is.
Well do you think it will improve matters? Like I said, the last time I saw, the pollution around the roundabouts are higher than what the EU deem acceptable.
If we want lots of evening entertainment and a spin off of more good shops, we need the customers to make it worthwhile for people who want to open such establishments.
This is my point. I see nothing exciting about more shops...I don't need them and if the truth were known, nor do others. If I need to live on the door step to get all that sheet, I'd move to a toilet like Swindon, Basingstoke or Reading. Evening entertainment? I see we are about to get another ferkin Indian restaurant, YIPEE!!! Perhaps we might be able to encourage a few more Estate Agents while we're at it!
My only hope is that WBC will have enough foresight to realise that they have started a large ball rolling and now are duty bound to make sure that we benefit rather than suffer from the extra traffic and work out how to get it all parked so that people want to come here and shop rather than going to Reading or Basingstoke. Friendly parking, not aggressive green meanie scary parking so that you spend half your time in town wondering if you read the sign correctly or if your car is so unique that it has to be photographed for posterity.
I hope you have big lungs.
You and others welcome all these shops and places for people drink and eat. How very 20th century.
Are you saying he shouldn't criticise WBC if he thinks they have ballsed it up? Are you another one who thinks they should be above criticism and be able to throw our money around as they wish?
Help me out here guys... is it true that this is the only shopping complex / Mall / whatever that is currently being built in the whole of western Europe?
Threep.
I thought there were two in construction in the UK - no idea about the rest of western Europe.
Threep - here you go....plenty getting built, Carmarthen, Wakefield, Bath and Bury are all doing big retail projects.
Given the £4m handout to persuade Debenhams to move 500 yards, it's even more illuminating to find Debenham's top property people saying they're not in it for greed, and that they're quite happy with smaller stores!
Interesting to see how the discussion has moved on over the years of Park Way pontification (or not!)
I agree that there's not much we can do but watch Starbucks, Costa, Vodafone, Dorothy Perkins, and River Island move to Parkway (I hear they're all talking to Standard Life), and then the concessions leaving Camps, and the possibly fatal loss of New Look for the Kennet Centre.
On the last point, is Kennet Shopping finished as a retail space? Should it become a pure leisure operator? (More nightlife and weekend treats than everyday items)?
I agree that there's not much we can do but watch Starbucks, Costa, Vodafone, Dorothy Perkins, and River Island move to Parkway (I hear they're all talking to Standard Life), and then the concessions leaving Camps, and the possibly fatal loss of New Look for the Kennet Centre.
Fatal's a bit over the top isn't it and why isn't it fatal for all the other relocations you mention?
I suspect there will be a real 'cat amongst the pigeons' retailer among some of the new ones that take up occupancy in PW It's very exciting
Would you elucidate? How is 'it' 16th century and how is 20th century better?
You said that wanting new shops & new places to eat & drink was very '20th century'. Not wanting progress & keeping things as they were - seems old fashioned.
What is progress about more of the same? More traffic and more shops, eh? For me, progress would be to have a local A&E, and a local maternity unit. To me, progress for Newbury was having traffic taken away from the town (including the pedestrianisation project), having the Common given back for public use, the canal restoration. That is progress. Not more flamin shops (on public land sold for a £1.00) and more flamin traffic!!!
So H&M are coming to Newbury, whoopee boolacks! Well it gives the women something to do on a Saturday I suppose!
Quoted from 78
btw - why have you become Iommi in the post you were quoting?
A typing error, I mixed up my quoting from another site, I've corrected it now
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This is also a forum where people are encouraged and entitled to express opinions...and that is what I am doing. Belittling people like me, in the way you posted ( 
) will only open up a potential flame war! And short of my getting a ban, you will lose! 
