Plans have been put forward to remodel the East Mall at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, including the creation of new stores and a gym. The units currently occupied by Argos, Santander, Hempstead Therapy and The Works will be re-purposed to create space for 'a range of retail, leisure and community uses', which could include new cafes and restaurants. Although no specific gym operator has been named yet, an empty part of the existing Sainsbury's store could become a gym that is likely to be 'attractive to operators such as PureGym, The Gym Group or JD Gym'. If given the go-ahead by Medway Council, the plans could also see the 'tired' entrance to the East Mall undergo a major facelift. The existing entrance would be demolished and a new steel-frame, glazed 'glass box' entrance with new doors built to improve the visibility and appearance of the East Mall. The public space in front of the East Mall entrance has been earmarked for substantial refurbishment, including high-quality paving, planting and seating, to create a 'positively, actively-used' public realm and to accommodate a 'spill-out space' for the future cafe and restaurants. It is expected that 15 parking spaces will be lost, however, it is believed that this would not have a significant impact on the shopping centre's overall parking provision. 10 new cycle spaces are to be introduced. In a document submitted to Medway Council, DLG Architects said: "These proposals intend to significantly improve the appearance, access to and appeal of Hempstead Valley, meeting the needs of the local community and attracting quality retailers and tenants."
Commenting on the impact these plans may have on the existing Santander and The Works branches, a spokesperson for Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre said: "We are in contact with both of these tenants, and indeed those others potentially affected by the proposals and our aspiration is to retail both Santander and The Works within the centre." The latest plans for Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre surfaced just months after anchor retailer Sainsbury's commenced a major refurbishment of its Savacentre-style store, leaving around 13,000 sq ft empty for re-use. The former Argos store has also been left empty after it was relocated within the footprint of the existing Sainsbury's store as part of the ongoing refurbishment. You can have your say on the plans by submitting a comment on Medway Council's Planning Portal online.
Rachel Greening
1/6/2020 22:55:32
Primark and McDonald's/KFC/quick bite to eat restaurant
Derek Smythe
2/6/2020 06:25:09
Please god not a primark. Keep that in Chatham, no need for that at Hempstead Valley.
Cameron
3/11/2021 14:03:20
Agreed, let’s keep Hempstead nice and no chavy please for the love of GOD nooo
Lee
12/3/2022 09:07:45
Everyone talking as if Hempstead valley is upmarket.. we do have poundland ,card factory......
Sue
2/6/2020 06:49:04
Agree primark would bring a lot of custom to this place. I also think a wilkinsons would be ideal no shop like that ther at present.
Hollie
2/6/2020 07:04:04
I would like to see a next or a H&M 🤞🏻
Dee Richards
2/6/2020 07:33:34
Be nice to see another mens retailer there as mostly womens fashion
Debbie
2/6/2020 07:45:46
No primark not enough parking Wilco’s is a good idea
Linda
2/6/2020 08:56:21
How many more gyms do they need in Medway???
Anna
4/10/2021 20:57:32
There isnt any in the area, so I am very happy they will make one there ! Less car journeys for many people
Sandra
22/10/2021 15:44:11
It would be great to have a swimming pool in the new complex
Gary
2/6/2020 11:13:18
The improvements to Sainsbury's are questionably necessary at a time of crisis. The gentrification of Hempstead Valley has not led to a better shopping experience from my perspective or that of many that I know. The removal of a large communal eating space (common to shopping centres during the 1970's) was a step away from the positive experience of shared space. Having had a rather suddent jolt to our existing consumer experiences recently - do we really want to cram this iconic and much loved complex with the usual shops that exist everywhere and that contribute very little to our society? Who benefits from these changes? Is it existing shoppers or people who want to make money?
Sharon
2/6/2020 11:32:46
Some slightly more up market shops would be nice, keep Primark/Wilco in Chatham, Savacentre has enough bargain stores!
John Green
4/6/2020 08:25:05
Yes, keep the cheap shops in Chatham high street, they help to keep shoppers visiting and spending there. Hempstead should be a better shopping experience with a totally different atmosphere where people can socialise and shop without feeling that it is simply an extension of the town. But please, not at the expenses of an extremely useful local bank.
Fay
2/6/2020 11:56:01
I don't feel we need yet another gym in the area. Also do not feel a bank should be going too many are closing and not everyone does online banking
Kathleen
2/6/2020 20:13:47
I agree with Fay, need to keep the banks / etc far too many going, I don't do on line banking
william brooks
13/3/2021 21:22:45
the works already started for the gym I gained access though a door which had been left open by a worker, so it was all legal. Anyways large concrete beams have been removed and drywall has been installed along with new doors and fire escapes.
Elaine
3/6/2020 07:41:31
I agree the bank should defo stay please. I liked it when they had a kfc/mcdonalds there, it would be best of both worlds with all the other ones there now.
Sian
3/6/2020 09:08:26
Not objecting to the refurbishment plans overall BUT am concerned that Santander will be taken away as this bank is a lifeline for many, many customers.
Peter towell
3/6/2020 09:21:29
I remember the shopping centre being built. In order to secure planning position, a doctors surgery and a dentist were included (to be situated above Santander bank. Once approval was granted, these were struck off without a single brick being laid. At that time Hempstead had two doctors and a dentist - now we have none! Why doesn’t the Council INSIST that community medical provision is included in any revamp? After all, the population of Hempstead has increased massively since the shopping centre was originally built.
Jane drayton
5/6/2020 22:24:21
Be good to see a store like Dunhelm, or store selling household items. Even the Range.
Sharon Ainsworth
20/4/2021 18:38:10
I would like to see a more upmarket store such as Next. Keep stores such as Primark to Chatham high street. I am concerned about the loss of Santander in the centre. 21/4/2021 12:35:22
Surely not more cafes and restaurants, arn't there enough already? And we have to sacrifice an extremely useful bank for this! There seems to be very little imagination going into the restructuring of this, once useful, location. How about asking the people who live and shop in the area, what we would like? Gyms and restaurants are not the way forward. This is a SHOPPING centre!
Joanne
16/5/2021 20:34:53
Next would be nice 17/5/2021 13:44:02
It seems that the plee's from local residents about the loss of thier bank, are falling on def ears.
Dave
18/6/2021 12:27:00
Everywhere you shop there is only cheap not fit for purpose shops all catering for teenagers. Why not some decent quality for men and women's clothing. 18/6/2021 12:35:26
I agree with Dave. And four words stick out from the latest info:
MerryMacMas
12/7/2021 18:53:26
I have only just seen the plans to refurbish Hempstead Valley. I really don't think we need more food establishments, There is a large cafe in the middle of the Centre, cake/food stalls, Sainsburys Cafe, M&S Cafe and several restaurants on the outside. When Hempstead was originally built (or soon after), I heard of plans for a cinema. What happened to it? Be nice to see The Range, or a TKMaxx with a Homesense, or a Dunelm. I also like Wilko (reminds me of Woolworths). There's no decent clothes shops for men there. Come on Hempstead Valley, you can do better! 13/7/2021 10:09:15
The fewer shops and retailers means, less people will visit the site and more 'proper' shops will go by the wayside. And the basic fact is; many of these new cafe's and restaurants will follow suit and half of this revamped complex will end up empty and then, become full of cheap, boring, uninteresting shops which only a minority will be interested in.
Heidi
29/8/2021 10:57:00
I live across the road as a young family that's just moved to the area (but shopped at hempstead long before I even had kids)
B
2/9/2021 03:51:43
Yes please to the gym we need one in this area which would be local
Amy
18/10/2021 18:12:14
Primark is a must for me, personally I hate going to chatham so one in Hempstead valley would be great, also a wilko or even a b&m Comments are closed.
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