Atria Watford
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Location | Watford, UK |
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Coordinates | 51°39′19″N 0°23′39″W / 51.65528°N 0.39417°W |
Opening date | 1990-92 |
Developer | Intu Properties |
Management | Michael Stevens |
Owner | (93%) Intu Properties, (7%) Watford Borough Council |
Architect | Chapman Taylor Partners[1] |
No. of stores and services | Over 145 |
Total retail floor area | 67,500 m2 (727,000 sq ft) |
No. of floors | 7 (inc. Parking) |
Parking | 2050 + 3000 (Watford Council) in Watford |
Website | www |
The Harlequin Shopping Centre, currently known as Intu Watford, is a shopping centre in the middle of Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. It opened between 1990 and 1992.[2][3]
The building is glass roofed with symmetrical malls. The anchor store of the centre is a branch of John Lewis. Following a local tradition, this was known as Trewins until rebranding in 2001.[4]
The centre was rebranded as intu Watford in 2013 following the renaming of its parent Capital Shopping Centres Group as Intu Properties.[5]
An adjoining shopping centre, Charter Place, was bought by Intu Properties in April 2013.[6] Planning permission was granted in 2014 for Charter Place to be integrated with Intu Watford and expanded, to include a 9-screen IMAX cinema.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Harlequin_Mall.jpg/220px-Harlequin_Mall.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Harlequin_Centre_in_2016.jpg/220px-Harlequin_Centre_in_2016.jpg)
In 1962 there were discussions about development of the site with the plans including a ten-pin bowling alley and 130 flats.[citation needed]
The Sainsbury's store on Queen's Road was bought and demolished (1983) to create space for the centre and a warehouse. During the development of the centre, listed high street buildings were renovated and Queen's Road was maintained as a pedestrian cross route through the town.[citation needed]
The shopping centre was named and opened by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd (founded 1987, dissolved 2000[7]) in 1990.[8]
Watford Council extended a resident parking permit scheme in 1996 to deal with the parking congestion that had arisen since the opening of the Centre.[9]
Intu Properties purchased the adjoining Charter Place shopping centre from Watford Borough Council in April 2013.[10] The company announced plans to integrate Charter Place into the main Intu Watford centre, and include a multi-screen cinema, restaurants and larger shops in the development.[11] Planning permission was granted in January 2014 for the partial rebuild and renovation of Charter Place.[12] Demolition work began in November 2015.[13]
References
- ^ Phillips, Derek (2013). "Case study 45: Harlequin Shopping Centre, Watford". Lighting Modern Buildings. Routledge. p. 192. ISBN 9781136387302.
- ^ Miles, David. "Trewins sets up shop in Harlequin Centre". Watford Observer. Watford Observer. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Harlequin Centre, Watford". Shopping Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ Eade, Christine. "Intu plans to complete £100m revamp of its Watford centre by the end of 2017". Property Week. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "The connected consumer – the future of shopping centres" (PDF) (Press release). Capital Shopping Centres Group. 17 January 2013. p. 11. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Intu exchanges on Charter Place shopping centre". Watford Borough Council. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Companies House WebCheck service, retrieved 6 Jun 2016
- ^ Intellectual Property Office ref O-346-04 - objection by HEL to the registration of a similar trade mark by Capital Shopping Centres plc
- ^ Hayes-Griffin, J.; Collis, H. (1998). "Decriminalised parking in Watford". Highways and transportation. 45 (5): 17–20. ISSN 0265-6868.
- ^ "Intu exchanges on Charter Place shopping centre". Watford Borough Council. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ Wright, Mike (1 November 2013). "New IMAX cinema planned for Watford as part of Charter Place revamp". Watford Observer. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ Wright, Mike (9 January 2014). "Politicians approve plans for £100m redevelopment of Charter Place". Watford Observer. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Morby, Aaron (10 November 2015). "Laing O'Rourke replaces BAM on £110m Watford mall". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 12 November 2015.