Queensgate shopping centre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Queensgate shopping centre in the United Kingdom, is situated at Peterborough city centre in Cambridgeshire. It was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on 09 March 1982 and contains over 90 stores and parking for 2,300 cars. Queensgate bus station is adjacent to the shopping centre and only a short walk from Peterborough railway station, a major interchange.[1] Peterborough Shopmobility provide wheelchairs and electric scooters to help those with limited mobility.[2]

Designated a New Town in 1967,[3] Peterborough Development Corporation decided to construct a new purpose-built shopping centre in the heart of the revitalised city.[4] Planning permission was received in the late summer of 1976 and, in the November of that year, the John Lewis Partnership announced that it had agreed to be the anchor shop in the new development.

The opening of John Lewis Peterborough (and Waitrose supermarket) marked a return to the city after an absence of over twenty five years. Until 1956, when the two main blocks of the building were completely destroyed by fire, the John Lewis Partnership had a small department store in Peterborough trading under the name of Robert Sayle. Formerly known as Thomsons, the shop had been renamed following acquisition by the Partnership in 1940.[5] Robert Sayle was itself renamed John Lewis Cambridge in 2007.[6]

Independent local radio station, Hereward FM, has broadcast from studios at Queensgate since moving from Lower Bridge Street in 1987. Queensgate advertises on Hereward with the jingle the capital city of shopping.

In 2005 Hammerson Plc acquired a 50% interest in the freehold of Queensgate from Norwich Union Life and Pensions for a total consideration of £156 million.[7] The north Westgate project will create a 646,000 square feet (60,000 m²) mixed-use development adjacent to the existing shopping centre. On completion of the works, the combined scheme will form a single 1,450,000 square feet (135,000 m²) destination.[8]

In 2007 Queensgate shopping centre announced it would be opening on Boxing Day for the first time in its 25 year history.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Peterborough Bus Station Peterborough City Council (retrieved 11 January 2008)
  2. ^ Peterborough Shopmobility Peterborough City Council (retrieved 11 January 2008)
  3. ^ The Peterborough New Town (Designation) Order 1967, see the London Gazette (Issue 44377) published 01 August 1967
  4. ^ Hancock, Tom Greater Peterborough Master Plan Peterborough Development Corporation, 1971
  5. ^ The history of John Lewis Peterborough The John Lewis Partnership (retrieved 10 January 2008)
  6. ^ The history of John Lewis Cambridge The John Lewis Partnership (retrieved 10 January 2008)
  7. ^ Hammerson Acquires Interest in Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough Hammerson, Press Release, 17 November 2005
  8. ^ Development Agreement for North Westgate, Peterborough Hammerson, Press Release, 14 February 2006
  9. ^ Nicolson, Kirsty Queensgate to open on Boxing Day this year Peterborough Evening Telegraph, 22 December 2007

[edit] External links


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