Castlepoint Shopping Park - Car Park Progress Update
31 May 2007
“Resolving the legacy of the defective car-park at Castlepoint remains a complex and time-consuming process.
Our priority remains identifying the best way to rebuild the car-park to ensure disruption to shoppers and retailers is minimised. There is a huge amount of work going into doing this.
The scale of the challenge is enormous. The car-park itself is the size of 7 football pitches and rebuilding it will require the removal of 50,000 tonnes of concrete.
We are currently reviewing the different options for rebuilding the car-park. We do not expect that work to rebuild it will begin before 2008.
We are pleased to be able to report that progress is being made in the operation of the compensation scheme introduced in December 2006 in conjunction with Kier and their insurers. Nine claims have been settled and negotiations continue with other retailers to establish the extent to which they may have a valid claim.
Trading at Castlepoint remains very strong with car park usage back to the levels prior to the closure of the centre in 2005. An average of 95,000 cars visit the centre each week and we are expecting 11 million shoppers in total this year. We are grateful for the continued support and loyalty of Castlepoint’s customers. “
February 2007
Questions and Answers
1. When will the building work on the new car park begin?
At the moment we are not in a position to confirm a start date. In order for redevelopment work to occur we need to ensure the work will be carried through to completion. We need to consult tenants and planners and fundamentally we need to agree how and what will be done in detail.
2. Why is it taking so long to rebuild the car-park?
Whilst it may appear frustratingly slow, Castlepoint is working extremely hard to resolve the issue and progress is being made. The question of responsibility, the number of parties with an interest (tenants, insurers, contractors, lawyers) and the complexity of keeping a successful centre open, have all contributed to this.
Kier, the lead contractor, informed us in May 2006 that the permanent solution is to rebuild the car park at Castlepoint. Since then we have been working on the detail about how rebuilding will be carried out. We will then hold further discussions with the Council, retailers and other interested parties to ensure they are all consulted on the plans
3. Will the shops stay open during the building work?
It is our firm intention that the Centre will continue to trade as normally as possible during any works, particularly during key trading periods such as Christmas and Easter. We are committed to ensuring that disruption to the local community, retailers, their employees, shoppers and other visitors is minimised as much as possible.
4. Will I still be able to park at Castlepoint?
Our planned solution is to rebuild the car park in phases. This will mean customers will still be able to park at Castlepoint during any works that take place. We are currently liaising with the contractor and various third parties to establish how this objective can be achieved.
5. Is the car park currently safe to use?
Yes. The car park currently complies with all health and safety requirements and is safe to use.
6. Why are there props in the car park?
The propping is substantial and devised to provide a robust interim solution pending redevelopment. Our monitoring and programming of the works keeps this constantly under review.
7. How will we know when work is beginning and whether it is affecting any nearby roads and houses?
We will be keeping shoppers, retailers, staff, the media and the local community up to date on the programme of works before and during the rebuild.
8. Why can’t Castlepoint fix the existing car park?
The propping work that we completed earlier this year provided a safe interim solution to the problems we were experiencing with the car park. However, the contractors have advised us, on the basis of advice from their engineers, that a rebuild is the most sensible long term solution.
9. Will parking charges be introduced at Castlepoint to pay for the building work?
We have no plans at present to alter the existing arrangement whereby we offer customers four hours free parking at the Centre, which can be extended on special request to the Centre Management.
10. I work at Castlepoint. Will there still be staff parking?
We will continue to offer staff parking. If we need to review staff parking at any point, this will be done in consultation with tenants.
11. How much disruption will be caused to people living near Castlepoint as a result of the building work?
We want to keep the disruption to the local community to a minimum. We are liaising with the engineers to agree a timetable of work that is sympathetic to neighbourhood considerations whilst progressing in a timely fashion.
Permanent Solution to the Car Park
11th May 2006
Kier Group PLC
As reported in the press, Castlepoint Limited Partnership, the owners and operators of the Castlepoint retail centre in Bournemouth, have issued a statement regarding the rebuilding of the Car Park at Castlepoint.
Kier Build Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kier Group plc, was the design and build contractor for the construction of the retail centre including the car park. The design and construction of the car park were subcontracted to C V Buchan Ltd, a subsidiary of Amec plc. Hyder carried out the design for Buchan.
In November 2005 our client Castlepoint, announced the closure of the centre due to its concerns over health and safety. Kier, as principal contractor, worked around the clock to install temporary props allowing the centre to reopen fully in mid January. Kier has informed Castlepoint that the most appropriate permanent solution is for the car park to be rebuilt.
Kier confirm that reconstruction should commence in 2007 and will be carried out on a progressive basis thereby minimising any disruption to trading.
Kier are confident that they will be protected from any material financial consequences resulting from these issues by the insurance arrangements which are in place.
9 May 2006
Castlepoint Limited Partnership
Castlepoint Management announces that progress has been made regarding the permanent solution to the car park at Castlepoint. Kier, the lead contractor, has informed the Castlepoint Limited Partnership that they have been advised by engineers that the most appropriate permanent solution is to rebuild the car park at Castlepoint.
The requirement for a rebuild of the car park follows a series of problems that have affected it. Kier states “the only sensible way of sorting it out is to dismantle and rebuild the structure”.
A formal agreement will be required before any works begin. In addition, consultation will take place with the retailers, council and interested parties to ensure any works undertaken are managed in a responsible manner minimising disruption wherever possible.
The Castlepoint Partnership now awaits a proposal from Kier confirming their intentions, including a programme and the detailed nature of the works to be undertaken. Castlepoint Management anticipates that major works will not commence this year.
“It is our firm intention that the Centre will continue to trade as normally as possible during any agreed works, that disruption to the local community, retailers, their employees, shoppers and other visitors is minimised as much as possible and that key trading periods such as Christmas and Easter are safeguarded. We have been encouraged by Castlepoint’s excellent trading since the re-opening in January and the tremendous support of our customers.” Said David Paine on behalf of the Castlepoint Limited Partnership.
