Transport planning advice for Bluewater Shopping Centre
- Client Name
- Blueco Ltd
- Location
- UK
Challenge
We are retained by Land Securities, on behalf of Blueco Ltd. to advise on transport planning matters for Bluewater.
Bluewater Shopping Centre is an out-of-town shopping centre in Kent outside the M25 Orbital motorway. Located in a former chalk quarry, it occupies 240 acres and has a sales floor area of 154,000 sq m over three levels, making it the fourth-largest shopping centre in the UK. There are currently 300 stores, over 50 bars, cafés and restaurants, and a 13-screen cinema. The centre employs 7,000 people and serves over 27 million visitors a year.
Solution
In 2016, we advised on the redevelopment of the Bluewater Glow Events Venue, providing an extension to the existing cinema as well as additional family orientated leisure uses and restaurants. We made the case that the leisure facilities operated in conjunction with the retail element so would not generate significant additional trips. This was accepted by the local highway authority and planning permission was granted.
Impact
In the same year, we advised on the outline planning application for the redevelopment of the West Village and development of the ‘inner triangle’ to provide an additional 30,000 sq m of retail space. The same argument led to consent in 2017.
Most recently, we explored options on how a new bus route can link to the existing bus station.
