Dolphin centre facelift: £6.5m vision unveiled for Poole town centre (From Bournemouth Echo)

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Dolphin centre facelift: £6.5m vision unveiled for Poole town centre

11:00am Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Jim Durkin

CGI of how the Dolphin Centre will look

THE Dutch owners of Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre have announced a huge recession-busting £6.5 million investment for the town centre.

This ambitious rejuvenation scheme, that will be lodged with Borough of Poole planners next week, involves a complete overhaul of Kingland Crescent and Falkland Square.

Retail chiefs hope the scheme, which boasts new flooring, lighting, glazing and signage, will lead to more customers and more top name stores coming to Poole.

Speaking at the launch of the multi-million pound facelift, Alisa Davidson – asset manager for Dolphin Shopping Centre owners Wereldhave – said: “We are massive fans of Poole and what is already here.

“This scheme is not about trying to change the town, rather to consolidate on what is already here.

“Poole has its own identity and we are very happy with that identity and the loyalty of our retailers and customers.

“We already have a strong base and we hope this project will drive up footfall and encourage new businesses to the area.”

Wereldhave bought the centre at the end of 2010, before going on to purchase a significant slice of Falkland Square last year.

This investment comes at a time of bleak economic forecast, when few UK retail centres are ploughing cash into their high streets.

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Andrew Turton, managing director of Wereldhave Property management Co Ltd, said: “As a long term investor and local stakeholder in Poole, we are committed to the community and we are keen to better meet the needs of its discerning shoppers.

“We believe our plans will create a stronger, more attractive shopping environment which will appeal to local people as well as exciting and prospective retailers.”

As the scheme is in the early stages of the planning process, no completion date has been set but it is likely to take at least two years to finish.

However, Wereldhave bosses have said they are keen to start the phased project sometime this year.

Asked if the revamp was a concerted effort to go head-to-head with neighbouring retail centres, in Bournemouth, Mrs Davidson said: “We’re not competing with Bournemouth in any way.

“We are not looking towards Bournemouth and saying ‘we wish we were them’.

“Poole has its own identity and we are very happy with that identity and the loyalty of our customers.”

Recently appointed Dolphin Shopping Centre manager John Grinnell described the plans as “an amazing project that Poole needs”.

He added: “I am sure this scheme will attract new customers.”

l Project architect Brian Tracey says he tried to “create more of a seamless link” between the 1960s-style Dolphin Shopping Centre end of town and the historic High Street.

“We looked at a lot of other coastal towns and decided to use lots of pastel colours for this project, in keeping with the area’s coastal heritage,” he explained.

“What struck us about Poole was you have this wonderful historic High Street, then a railway crossing, then you’re into this area with a real 1960s feel.

“What we have tried to achieve is to create more of a seamless link – this is not a generic solution, this is something we hope draws on the existing character of Poole.”

Comments(20)

BournemouthMum says...
12:16pm Sat 28 Jan 12

I love Poole, it has great character and lots of history. I would rather visit Poole for shopping than stay in Bournemouth, which is boring in comparison. And Boscombe.. well no comment!