Work to improve the experience for customers using a shopping centre in Carlton is now underway – but it is open as usual.
The owners of the Carlton Square Shopping Centre are working on installing a new brick wall and piers along Station Road along with the installation of benches and new metal planters.
Existing shop buildings are also getting improved rendering and new street furniture, lighting and landscaping will be added to the site.
This work was originally planned to take place in 2020 and plans were submitted by shopping centre’s owners are BNP Parabis and their agents for this site is Waypoint – but were not progressed.
The original plans were revised and submitted back in November 2023 and approved on January 19 of this year by Gedling Borough Council.
A planning officer for the council recommended that plans should be approved.
In a report he said: “The proposed alterations would modernise the shopping centre which is currently of little aesthetic value. This would result in an enhancement to the character and appearance of the area.”
Gedling Eye contacted both BNP Parabis and Wayfair for comment.
A spokesman for Waypoint said: “I can confirm that refurbishment works are ongoing to renovate and improve elements of the centre.”
Carlton resident Sharon Buckley regularly shops at the site.
She said: “It needs something. It’s looked tired for years and I think that is why a lot of the shops have gone.
“This work should make a real difference and will hopefully attract some new shops.”
Tony Armstrong lives in Gedling and visits the Square regularly.
“I like it here. I have breakfast at the cafe, visit the greengrocer and then do my shopping at Farmfoods. This work is needed and will be welcomed.”
Good, needs a fair amount of work but has a lot of potential as being more accessible by foot compared to Carlton hill. Personally I would add an additional zebra crossing between the old volunteer pub and the girl guiding place, and then convert some of the underused parking to create a straight plaza area infront of the row of shops facing the carpark. Perhaps add a play area, small park or something similar to draw people into the area and spend time there. There is currently far too much parking which doesn’t get used as drivers are more like likely to take the short amount of extra time to get to the out of town retail parks and the bare car park instead makes the area harder to navigate and unsightly.
You can bet ya bottom dollar when it’s done that’l be your lot. And what of the demolition site behind the red boarding? Well? The new wall on Staion Rd….great blackboard for the tagging scum. Best keep camera on it. Already the new car parks a mess with the bushes in dire need of reigning in already. We get a giant ‘F’ instead of Welcome to Carlton Sq Shopping Centre. Really? The rest of the millions? Destined for Arnold you see, they are already squirrelling away on how to get their beady little hands on the biggest slice of the pie…..