Co-ordinated plans to improve Nailsea town centre are set to move forward this autumn.   

Ellandi, owners of the Crown Glass Shopping Centre have been working with a number of stakeholders to finalise a comprehensive scheme that will see nine million pounds invested in a number initiatives across the town centre, creating over 50 jobs.   

The plans have been developed over a five year period and will provide significant improvements in the choice of shopping, catering and community facilities in Nailsea.   

Shopper choice will be widened with a new Lidl store and a national Coffee shop operator. Community facilities will be enhanced with a refurbished children’s play area and better toilets and neglected areas of the town will be enlivened with the a single story 5,000 sq ft retail unit on the site of the former filling station, 30 retirement apartments the refurbishment of offices in Somerset Square and the gift of a community amenity area bordering Stockway South to the local authority.   

New branding and signage has been developed for the scheme and there are comprehensive marketing and enlivenment proposals that will see regular family entertainment events and a repeat of the successful ‘win a shop’ initiative to help foster local retail entrepreneurs.   

“Put together, this package of proposals will see the biggest investment in Nailsea town centre for decades.  The town centre retail offer will be anchored by two of the country’s most successful retailers Waitrose and Lidl and we are confident that vacancy rates will then fall further below the national average,’ says Charlotte Jarrett, Centre Manager at Crown Glass   

“With all of the additional improvements to the town centre I’m confident we will be able to bring more national names to the town as well as continue to foster our vibrant selection of local businesses such as Ewe Knit 20, The Blue Room and Burchills.”   

“We have listened to some of the concerns that were voiced in respect of our initial proposals and hope that we have moved to address some of these.” Comments Mark Robinson, Investment Director of owners and Community Shopping Centre specialists Ellandi.   

“For example following a constructive dialogue with Nailsea Town Council we have been able to re-orient the Lidl store through 90 degrees to have less impact on Stockway South and there is now a reduction in fewer car parking spaces and it is important to stress that the car park improvements will improve access to the health centre for all of their users, especially the disabled.”   

“The town Council will formally consider the proposed developments as and when a planning application is submitted, but it is clear they have listened and responded to concerns that were previously raised and were open to further constructive feedback.” Adds Ian Morrell of Nailsea Town Council     

The nine million pound investment plans for Nailsea town centre include the following elements.   

- Churchill Retirement Living submitting a planning application for 30 retirement apartments; part of these proposals a community amenity area bordering Stockway South will be gifted to the local authority.   

 - Rebranding and re-signing of the entire town in conjunction with Nailsea Town Council.   

- A planning application for a new single story 5,000 sq ft retail unit on the site of the former filling station.  This site currently has planning permission for a more controversial three story mixed use scheme.   

 - Refurbished public toilets.   

- A new Lidl store on part of the existing Crown Glass Car park.   

- Additional highway improvements to Christchurch Close.   

- A complete refurbishment and provision of a new children’s play area on Clevedon Walk (Images attached).   

 - A new premium national coffee operator on Somerset Square.   

- Conversion of redundant office space to provide 9 new homes within the town centre.   

- Refurbishment of remaining offices of Somerset Square to provide over 10,000 sq ft of modern offices, 75% of which have already been pre-let.   

A planning application has already been submitted by Churchill in respect of the Sycamore House, with proposals for the remainder of the master plan coming forward during September.