Car park deal unlocks Galleries redevelopment
A vital next step in making sure the redevelopment of The Galleries in Aldershot goes ahead has been taken by Rushmoor Borough Council. The council’s cabinet has agreed in principle to relinquish the council’s land interests in the High Street multi-storey car park so that that it will be included in the Galleries redevelopment. The cabinet has also agreed in principle to take a new long-term lease on a new 250 space car park, which will form part of the redevelopment.
Details of the legal agreement between the council and The Galleries’ owners, Shaviram, will now be finalised before the developer submits a planning application in late summer, with a planning decision expected by the end of the year.
At the same time the council has already acquired most of the properties needed for the Union Street East scheme, including the former Marks & Spencer and A&N buildings, and is negotiating on others. Plans are expected later in the summer. The two schemes, which are expected to be mix of housing, leisure and retail, form part of the council’s Regenerating Rushmoor programme.
Rushmoor Borough Council’s cabinet member for major projects and property, cllr Martin Tennant, said: “We’ve already made significant progress on the Union Street East scheme, but this agreement means we can now finally move forward with sorting out The Galleries, with a planning application coming very soon.
“Regeneration remains our highest priority and we are committed to delivering a programme that will radically alter the look of both our town centres so they can be in shape to face the challenges of the future.”
