The Chimes Leslie Jones Architecture

The Chimes

A retail-led development, creating one of the UK’s most successful town centre regeneration projects.

  • Client: Intu Properties PLC
  • Creation of 400,000 sq ft of retail space
  • Complex urban planning project
  • Retail, leisure, residential and public realm

Leslie Jones Architecture was commissioned by intu to transform a formerly barren nine-acre site into an impressive retail led mixed-use destination that would serve The Chimes’ growing catchment of 1.3 million people.

An £85 million urban placemaking project, the development comprised 400,000 sq ft of retail space, 11 restaurants, a nine-screen Odeon cinema, 30 residential units and 1,600 parking spaces.

Leslie Jones understands the requirements of modern civic space and the people that inhabit them and was therefore able to work efficiently with in the scheme’s tight urban plot to create a cohesive shopping centre. The designs incorporated a covered pedestrian route from Uxbridge tube station to the anchor store, occupied by Debenhams. This route connects the scheme’s most westerly and easterly points, elevating the asset’s fluidity and sense of place, and providing an easily navigable shopping experience.

Connectivity with the extended town centre was also a priority. As regeneration experts, Leslie Jones was able to plan continuous linkages back to the upgraded high street, while respecting the historic grain of the town. Existing properties have also been bought back to use by the scheme and reconverted to shop units on the ground level and attractive apartments above.

Two listed buildings were refurbished and converted into restaurants enclosing a new public square and providing a focal point for the new destination. Adapting to circumstances of the build, Leslie Jones incorporated a medieval timber frame found on the site during construction into the design.

Leslie Jones’ expertise in integrating developments of this kind within their surrounding cityscape has secured The Chimes’ position as one of the UK’s most successful regeneration projects. Serving a sizeable student and office community, The Chimes has revitalised the image and prosperity of the local community and breathed new life into this town centre.

 

 

admin
16 февраля, 2017