News RSS Feed


Plenty of room to shop: Asda store handed over

11:20am Wednesday 7th December 2011 in News Photograph of the Author By David Paine, @davidpaineWN #worcsnews

SPACE: The new Asda store has been handed over for fitting SPACE: The new Asda store has been handed over for fitting

THE construction of a new supermarket in Worcester that will create more than 350 jobs has been completed.

The Asda superstore is the centrepiece of the £75 million St Martin’s Quarter retail and leisure development in Lowesmoor.

The handover from developer Carillion Richardson to supermarket bosses was completed this week as Martyn Richardson gave the keys to the Asda project team. It is due to open early next year with just the interior left to be fitted out.

Selwyn Rowley, of Carillion Richardson, said: “With the construction of the Asda now complete we can really start to see the potential of the St Martin’s Quarter.

“It won’t be long before the public can start to enjoy this new leisure destination and the benefits of the development will have a major impact on the city.”

Now that the handover has happened developments on the rest of the site will quickly take shape, developers say.

Once complete St Martin’s Quarter will include 284,050 square feet of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities creating hundreds more jobs and providing Worcester with a new shopping and leisure destination.

We previously reported how discussions have already taken place with several pizza and pasta restaurants, as well as sandwich bars, ethnic food and international coffee chains, while there is also interest from gym operators.

The development is also a monument to the history of Worcester as the construction has incorporated elements of the old vinegar works and porcelain factory to help preserve the past.

Many aspects of the development, including the Asda entrance, preserve buildings and pay homage to the heritage of the city.

We previously reported how a virtual video tour of St Martin’s Quarter (above) takes viewers on a journey through the finished pedestrian walkways and open spaces, around the shops and restaurants and to the completed Asda superstore.

Nobody from Asda was available for comment.

Comments(26)

timevans says...
12:19pm Wed 7 Dec 11

So existing Worcester shops, bars and restaurants get further squeezed. This WILL cost people their jobs. Creating 350 jobs? You're having a laughing. Dont believe the propaganda spread to get the planning permission. Local business suffer when corporate giants move in!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dulon says...
12:52pm Wed 7 Dec 11

Timevans we have already been there ! the council seem to think that moving everything away from the high street is a good thing . I dont know where they get these stupid illusions from. Wit ness the death of Evesham high street as a consequence of out of town thinking . Then we have this new proposal in Hereford on the old cattle market. Notice also the gradual demise of Pershore high street.
We will end up with out of town malls
and no town centres worth thinking of. Is this really progress ?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

neilc says...
1:33pm Wed 7 Dec 11

timevans - do you have any evidence for the 'further' squeeze, ot is it just assumption? Do you also believe that the net result of this development will result in a loss of jobs?
Stop using sweeping generalisations to back up your point of view.
Competition is a good situation for all residents of Worcester, offering greater variety and potentially attracting new visitors to our fantastic city.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MJI says...
1:37pm Wed 7 Dec 11

A lot of this was not wanted or needed but Asda is well overdue.
.
With the near Tesco monopoly it will be nice to have a choice.
.
We do not need yet more Pizza places, there are other places closing.
.
It should have been all Asda.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MrStJohns says...
1:47pm Wed 7 Dec 11

There is a slight disparity in people travelling to Evesham and Pershore as a shopping destination though, id guess about 5 people shop in either Evesham or Pershore at any one time ;- ), while worcester is the principle employment centre for the rural county of Worcestershire, with catchment contains over 1 million people with a comparison goods spend of over £461 million. I would imagine this is why Worcester is able to sustain such extra development, personally I haven’t noticed anywhere closing only new places opening such as the art deco café in angel place and the new zizzi near the cathedral etc . lowesmoor isn’t outside of the city centre historically its always been a part of the city centre, but unfortunately cut of by the city walls road. Hopefully this new development will address that issue.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

neilc says...
1:53pm Wed 7 Dec 11

I agree MrStJohns, I haven't seen any places closing either.
I welcome the addition of new restaurants even if we do have Ask and Pizza Express already - neither of them compare to Puchinni's on Friar St so I take my business there.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dulon says...
2:03pm Wed 7 Dec 11

Mrstjohns do you think that the opening of a new supermarket is going to create 'new money'?
I think that you are naive to think that just because there is a new shop people will spend more. There will be a redistribution of the spend of the population if the shop is successful, and consequently there will be a decrease in sales at other premises.
Service industries do not create wealth they merely distribute it .
Just because there is a new Asda does not mean that we all have a pay rise !

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MrStJohns says...
2:11pm Wed 7 Dec 11

Well I thought id state a few facts, I know the doom mongers can get abit carried away with themselves ;- ), regarding Worcester is shutting down, everything is closing blah blah blah, in reality Worcester’s rated highly as a shopping destination, ranks highly as an affordably affluent place to live, has stacks of independent shops and restaurants alongside chains so people can make their own choice. Oh yes, while i have taken advantage of the never ending stream of 2 for 1 offers available at pizza express, I totally agree puccinis is wonderful and a real treat, testament to the fact its always packed.

PS dulon, no idea I don’t shop at supermarkets, but for those that do im sure ASDA will be welcome competition to the dreaded TESCO, as for your theory on redistribution of wealth I doubt it will have a massive effect. Sainsbury’s resided in the city centre for years (not such a large store) and the butchers, veg shops etc still existed and still do now. But that’s only my opinion, I shall now go aware and continue in my naivety, go forth in your negativity

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

neilc says...
2:16pm Wed 7 Dec 11

Redistribution of spending it may be, but if it is encouraging people to spend their money in Worcester rather than anywhere else then it benefits all of those that live in the city.
On another note - why are people so miserable?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

timevans says...
3:09pm Wed 7 Dec 11

neilc wrote:
timevans - do you have any evidence for the 'further' squeeze, ot is it just assumption? Do you also believe that the net result of this development will result in a loss of jobs?
Stop using sweeping generalisations to back up your point of view.
Competition is a good situation for all residents of Worcester, offering greater variety and potentially attracting new visitors to our fantastic city.
Yes- I own and run a retail business in Worcester high street (and have done for 18 years). Many of my friends did, but dont now as there businesses were eroded by the multiple machines. We know the effect of new multiples entering Worcester and removing money from local circulation. We also benefitted from the demise of Woolworths and even took on a new member of staff. So I am better placed than anyone to say what effect of new competition is! Worcester has remained a robust high street in relation to other cities around us, but for how long?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

neilc says...
3:33pm Wed 7 Dec 11

timevans - so good you posted 3 times ;-) Which shop? I would love to spend money with you if possible.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Vox populi says...
8:10pm Wed 7 Dec 11

It's called competition - if you can't compete by offering a better service, better quality or different product then why are you in business.

Price is not the only customer loyalty driver it just means it maybe harder work...

Please god tell me it has a petrol station planned?! That would be a great example of how competition helps the consumer and break the tesco monopoly of dictating fuel prices...

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

timevans says...
9:30pm Wed 7 Dec 11

Vox populi wrote:
It's called competition - if you can't compete by offering a better service, better quality or different product then why are you in business.

Price is not the only customer loyalty driver it just means it maybe harder work...

Please god tell me it has a petrol station planned?! That would be a great example of how competition helps the consumer and break the tesco monopoly of dictating fuel prices...
.....and why does tesco monopolise fuel prices? Through predatory pricing they have annihilated the independent garage....shall we mention convenience stores, milk deliveries and pubs at this point.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

thesquirrel says...
10:01am Thu 8 Dec 11

What a shame. You only need to look at Kidderminster - they converted old carpet mills and added a load of retail space. The 'old' part of town is now decimated, full of empty shops. With more and more shopping done online the need for retail space will continue to diminish. What Worcester really needs is more parking space - and cheap/free too.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dulon says...
11:49am Thu 8 Dec 11

ref the comments from the squirrel. this is probably answering the key question.
The shoppers at the asda development will be parked freely right outside the door. Now compare that situation, for hard pressed mums, with parking the other side of the city walls road and then traipsing across various roads with the kids to get to the shops on the high street. It is not going to take a lot of working out where convenience is concerned.
Timevans my heart goes out to you . The small independent is fighting a losing battle when it comes to location and amenity. And the habits of shoppers are changing to suite the shop fast and convenient model. Our councils and planners do not seem to be able to recognize this.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

pinkfluff says...
12:37pm Thu 8 Dec 11

People love to shop, those who enjoy browsing will continue to do so. Personally I don't care for it so I don't do it.....nick knacks do not appeal to me. However, I do need to eat so supermarket is the way for me. Get in, buy whay I need and get out. Free parking is a bonus. Yes I will be trying out the new Asda because at the moment my choice is limited.

I see "town shopping" and "supermarket shopping" as different types of shopping so therefore not in competition. Just my opinion.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dulon says...
1:23pm Thu 8 Dec 11

good point taken pinkfluff . I think that you represent the majority with your food requirements. The problem is that ASDA etc dont just offer food .What these guys offer is everything from clothes to car insurance and opticians. All of these subjects are the ingredients of the small high street enterprises. They are/were the back bone of the high street

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

MakeUthink says...
4:10pm Thu 8 Dec 11

Am most disappointed that there is NOT an Asda petrol station included in the development. It is the only way that Sainsbury's & Tescos would reduce their (petrol) prices. If Asda (Merry Hill) can charge just 128.7p per litre, so can the other two, but they resist until a similarly-sized competitor moves in and challenges their price duopoloy.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Endconreignforever says...
5:39pm Thu 8 Dec 11

So exciting to see Asda and the new shopping area coming together. Why people are so gloomy is beyond me. There are many great things that the high street has to offer...The Christmas market brought in 100,000 people according to Worcester News...people love the history. The University has brought in 10,000 people roughly and with that comes more job opportunities ..so more business outside retail will have to become available to keep some of those students here, working in Worcester society where they will spend their hard earned money. As for pubs, Hand'n Glove is doing very well..the Austrian bar and hero's my friend owns are all doing well, who drinks most (students) ...So I dont feel Worcester is suffering more gaining and will draw in from the rural areas. It's places like Stourport that are a waste of tax payers money (sorry Stourport!!) but it's true..here businesses are closing and offer nothing for young people. The youth are the future isn't it about time we invested in them?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Vox populi says...
7:09pm Thu 8 Dec 11

Vox populi wrote:
It's called competition - if you can't compete by offering a better service, better quality or different product then why are you in business.

Price is not the only customer loyalty driver it just means it maybe harder work...

Please god tell me it has a petrol station planned?! That would be a great example of how competition helps the consumer and break the tesco monopoly of dictating fuel prices...
I disagree - they provide value for Money to the consumer and competition for retailers.

Why should the consumer be denied this in the interests of other retailers ?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

dibble dibble says...
11:06pm Thu 8 Dec 11

Asda bananas are my favourite. So I'm pleased I'll be able to get them more often.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

DarrenM says...
5:24pm Sun 11 Dec 11

As they've never fully let the Crowngate since it was built I can see this being another white elephant. And Worcester a a destination that's a joke, congested road network, rip off parking , and when you finally get in you can be accosted by vagrants and big issue sellers, I'm not surprised the high streets dying most people I know started shopping else where years ago

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Worcesterman says...
9:51am Mon 12 Dec 11

mr st johns: I cannot believe that I actually agree with you.
But in this case you are absolutely right.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

neilc says...
10:04am Mon 12 Dec 11

DarrenM - Are you suggesting that the Crowngate shopping center is a white elephant?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

pinkfluff says...
6:23pm Mon 12 Dec 11

and is vox populi disaggreeing with him/herself?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Vox populi says...
1:24pm Tue 13 Dec 11

Yup I obviously hit the wrong "quote" link.

Willing to learn from mistakes and open to opinion changes though ....

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

click2find

Most popular


About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree