Sanderson Arcade Shopping Centre Morpeth
30 Apr 2010
WCEC Architects outstanding design and quality of work has been recognised. The prestigious Sanderson Arcade Shopping Centre in Morpeth has received Highly Commended award in the commercial category by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The 105,000 sq ft town centre was opened by Joanna Lumley in November 2009. It features a variety of traditional elements and materials, carefully combined to produce a sophisticated and stylish arcade. This thoughtful design together with a high quality public realm has put a sympathetic and coherent heart back into Morpeth town centre.
The centre is now home to major national retails such as Marks and Spencer, Laura Ashley, Waterstones, New Look and Fat Face. In addition local North East companies have also opened outlets in the arcade including The Jewellers Guild, Oxleys of Morpeth and Advanced Nutrition.
Gavin Ward, partner at WCEC Architects, said: "It is really gratifying for this Morpeth scheme to have been recognised by the RICS as the awards celebrate the most inspirational designs across the region. We invested a great deal of effort to ensure that the development had a traditional character yet used the latest materials and technology to provide a quality retail heart for Morpeth. The end result is truly inspiring and will confirm Morpeth’s pedigree as a shopping destination. It has been a delight to work for a client with such foresight and enthusiasm for design."
This is the first of two phases which also included first floor office space and a new fitness centre. Work is now due to start on the next phase of the Sanderson Arcade development delivering three new retail units.
Sanderson Arcade has been built by Morpeth II – the development partnership of Dransfield Properties and Ethel Austin Properties. Regional contractor Mansell’s have been responsible for turning the carefully detailed plans into reality.