A £120 million project to integrate and extend two existing shopping centres and create a new, single retail and leisure destination for the thriving commuter town.
- Client: intu Properties PLC
- Creation of a new 1.4 million sq ft centre
- Establishment of a new lifestyle destination
- Provision of modern retail and restaurant space
- New multiplex cinema with Imax
Leslie Jones Architecture was appointed by intu to integrate Charter Place with the existing intu Watford centre to create a new leading retail and leisure space.
A central requirement of the project was to bring intu’s brand to life in the cohesive 1.4 million sq ft centre. Based on a long-standing relationship with the client, Leslie Jones was able to inject creativity into the design, while ensuring intu’s commercial requirements were met.
The resulting design features a diversity of architectural forms with gable-inspired façades and a dynamic glazed covering to the central space, which has been purposefully designed to encourage free flow of consumers between the amalgamated centres.
The centre will provide Watford with a balanced and fresh retail and leisure scheme. It includes a contemporary nine-screen cinema with a 450 seat Imax theatre complemented by a vibrant new restaurant quarter. The development will increase dwell time beyond traditional trading hours and draw a higher footfall through the development.
The project started on site in March 2016 is expected to complete in 2018 with the creation of a new homogenous focus for Watford’s retail and leisure offering where people can visit, shop and socialise.