Scarborough submits plans for Brunswick revamp

Scarborough Group International has submitted plans to transform the 1990s-built, Debenhams-anchored Brunswick shopping centre in Scarborough town centre into a leisure-led destination. The group, which bought the 134,000 sq ft mall in September 2021, wants to undertake a major repositioning of the property to deliver a “leisure-led destination, based around a modern, high-quality cinema”. The proposals also include a range of other leisure, food and beverage, and ancillary retail uses, all delivered within the existing building envelope. Mark Jackson, group development director at SGI, said: “Town centres across the country are suffering as changes to the nation’s shopping habits affect the demand for retail space, and the Brunswick has found itself with all-too-familiar problems. The collapse of Debenhams and Arcadia was a significant loss for the Brunswick, and viable occupier demand no longer exists for the centre in its current form.” He added: “We want to see the Brunswick drive the town centre economy once again, and promote further investment in Scarborough. We are very mindful that the Brunswick is one of the town centre’s key opportunities to support Scarborough Borough Council’s strategic objective of becoming the best performing coastal town centre in England by 2025 and the primary economic hub for retail, leisure, learning and living within the Yorkshire coast area, and we recognise our responsibilities to these aims.” Council leader Steve Siddons said: “It’s been a long-term ambition of this administration to have a multi-screen cinema in Scarborough. This facility will breathe new life into the centre of the town, particularly in the early evening and for the night-time economy, offering residents and their families the opportunity for new and exciting entertainment facilities. “We have worked closely with Scarborough Group to develop these bold proposals which I hope we will see in the very near future.” The scheme, which has been designed by architects Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher, is being funded by a mix of private and public sector investment, specifically drawing on Scarborough council’s Future High Street Fund and Levelling Up Fund allocation. Subject to permission, work is expected to start on site in by mid-2023, with the finished scheme open by Christmas 2024. Zerum is advising on planning.   To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews Images courtesy of Scarborough Group International