New owners take over Shopping City
RUNCORN Shopping City is reported to be under new ownership. The centre fell into receivership in 2019, 10 years on since the receivers were last brought in, and faced an uncertain future.
Halton Borough Council said the privately-owned facility has now been bought and is under new owners.
A spokeswoman said the local authority has made contact with the firm, which is considering its plans.
Halton Council issued a statement about the centre in response to a query over whether any progress had been made in relation to refurbishing or redeveloping the site.
The mall opened in 1972 and was the largest indoor shopping centre in Europe at the time but fell into decline and has remained a civic conundrum in recent decades amid major upheaval in retail habits including the rise of the internet and retail parks, plus larger, more modern facilities in nearby locations such as Widnes, Warrington, Liverpool, Ellesmere Port and Chester.
Details of the identity of the new owners have not yet been made available.
Before the pandemic hit, hopes of a radical redevelopment of the site had been brewing with Rivington Hark regeneration specialists appointed by Savills to reimagine its future, and a design competition organised by the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to conjure a selection of possible options to redevelop the site.
The LCR has also awarded £1m for a range of improvements including to pedestrian and cycling access, relocating some hospital services to the shopping centre and a rooftop garden.
A council spokeswoman said: “You will be aware that Shopping City is in private ownership.
“That ownership changed.
“The council has made contact with the new owners who are currently considering their plans for the future of has recently
Shopping City.
“The council remains committed to ensuring that Shopping City and the area surrounding it, which is also in multiple private ownerships, continues to provide the residents of Runcorn with a robust multi-purpose town centre.
“The proposals for the relocation of health services into Shopping City and the rooftop garden continue to progress, despite the challenges presented by Covid.”
In July Halton council quashed rumours that it was looking to buy the site, which had been owned by Guernsey-based Runcorn One Developments since buying the freehold in 2011.