Harlequin Shopping Centre
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| Location | Watford, UK |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| 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
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 centre's original name is believed to be based on the adjacent Watford High Street station, just south of the centre. At the time the rail route that runs through it, the Watford DC line, was branded as the Harlequin Line, because it runs through Harlesden and Queen's Park stations further south.[7][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
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