Capital & Regional has lodged plans with Dacorum Borough Council for a £13m reconfiguration of The Marlowes shopping centre, as it progresses its long-term vision for Hemel town centre.
The proposals initially include a new nine-screen cinema, located within the main mall, and the refurbishment of part of the centre to create a new dining offer, comprising six units. Capital & Regional will also remodel the northern entrance to the centre which will be the primary arrival point for the new leisure offer.
The Marlowes comprises over 100 retail units across the Marlowes shopping centre and adjacent buildings on the Marlowes Street. Stores include Marks & Spencer, Argos, Wilko, River Island, Poundworld, New Look, JD, The Perfume Shop, Ernest Jones and The Entertainer.
C&R bought the 340,000-sq ft Marlowes for £35.5m in 2016. Since then the company has invested an additional £18.3m to consolidate its ownership in the town centre to enable the delivery of its long-term plans to create a revitalised retail and leisure offer for Hemel.
Retail asset manager Gareth Holland said: “We are excited to unveil the first phase of our plans for The Marlowes. The addition of a cinema, alongside a new family dining offer, is integral to our vision to create a modern, vibrant town centre with a thriving day and evening economy.”
