May 6, 2016
The Grafton Centre has announced plans for an exciting refurbishment programme, to rejuvenate the centre and create a more inviting shopping and dining destination for Cambridge locals to enjoy. Owner Legal & General Property (“LGP”) is investing in the region of £18.5 million in the centre, and will be making improvements to entrances, lighting, the creation of new shops, and bright open spaces throughout.
The Grafton will stay open for the duration of the refurbishment, which is planned in two phases. The first phase of the work is scheduled to begin in May 2016, and will include the creation of a striking new double height glazed entrance on Fitzroy Street, providing more natural light, new double height shop fronts to some of the larger stores, as well as a newly glazed roof with feature lighting.
Eden Hall, an area of the centre previously home to a collection of smaller shops will be reconfigured to create an improved shopping environment. The Central Court will feature an impressive new skylight and will be de-cluttered to create open spaces and offer a new dining and seating area. The first phase of work is scheduled for completion in spring 2017.
The second phase of work is in development, and will include the refurbishment of The Great Court, and the creation of a new restaurant quarter, providing The Grafton Centre with an exciting new food offering to complement the recently refitted Vue Cinema.
The Grafton Centre will also benefit from a new brand identity, inline with its fresh look and feel.
Tom Williams, Senior Asset Manager, Legal & General Property, said,
“Cambridge is a diverse and growing city and The Grafton Centre has real potential to provide an exciting retail and leisure destination for the city’s growing population. Our vision is to improve the centre by providing new anchor opportunities for retailers and quality retail and leisure space. We are in talks with a number of brands, some new to Cambridge, about taking space in the centre. The Grafton will provide Cambridge with a revitalised shopping, dining and entertainment destination, within a bright and spacious environment for families, locals and students to enjoy”.
Investment into The Grafton Centre is expected to act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the area as there is a clear shift in the centre
of energy for the city towards the east. There is therefore enormous potential for this increasingly important part of the city, capturing growth of business, residential, transport and infrastructure, with key establishments such as Anglia Ruskin University on the doorstep.
The refurbishment of The Grafton Centre is being managed by Wrenbridge, a London and Cambridge-based developer. Corstorphine & Wright are the architects for the project.