Industrial UK town dubbed ‘hell on earth’ to turn shabby old shopping centre into ‘go-to destination’ in huge revamp
A SHABBY old shopping centre in an industrial UK town is set to receive a multi-million-pound revamp.
Property developers purchased the town’s central shopping centre from former owners late last year, with major plans to transform it.
It comes two years after the town’s centre was dubbed “hell on earth” by locals who were facing a series of youth vandalism occurrences.
Youth gangs were known to start fights, vandalise and cause chaos particularly around the town’s central shopping area.
Locals claimed they were hold the town hostage, as youths on bikes were often seen entering stores, and terrifying customers of all ages.
But last year, ambitious plans to revitalise the town centre from almost a decade ago began to be put in place.
The Forum Shopping Centre in the heart of Sittingbourne, Kent was then bought for £2.4 million by Vanguard Properties UK Ltd from Praxis in December.
Director of Vanguard, Kamal Farid, told KentOnline: “We want to attract a higher footfall into the shopping centre.”
He hopes to do this by enhancing the retail, food and beverages outlets.
“The only way to do this is by attracting shops that you cannot find online”, Mr Farid added.
“We also want to redevelop the shopping centre as much as we can, make it lively, make it a good place for families and all the people in the community to come here and enjoy their time.
“This project was a very big challenge because there were nine vacant units [but] since our takeover in December, there are only four vacant units left.”
A Costa Coffee currently exists in The Forum, but there are talks of another large national chain joining the centre, which Mr Farid has not confirmed the identity of.
The retailer is set to take on the largest unit of the complex, that was once the site of Tesco, Somerfield, and most recently Poundstretcher.
This will be in unit number 19, which has been empty since 2022.
In addition, an independent store called Julian’s Pie and Mash is due to open in the coming months.
Mr Farid also revealed Vanguard’s plan to build 74 flats on the roof of the site, that will also help boost footfall.
The redevelopment is expected to cost between £6 million to £7 million, and several years to complete.
Its building will be done by 35-year-old Farid’s company, Imperium Engineering, which he decided to take on due to The Forum’s “iconic location”.
The shopping centre is located in a prime spot for the town, right across from the rail station with an entrance onto the High Street.
Vanguard are planning to submit its proposals to Swale Council this week.
The revitalised shopping centre comes nearby a new 24/7 gym, an eight-screen cinema and leisure centre complex known as The Light, a Travelodge hotel and a series of restaurants, that were introduced last year.
The Forum first opened in 1989, and was owned by Tesco between 2008 and 2019, until it was bought by Praxis for more than £7 million before being sold to Vanguard.