Plans to regenerate Victoria shopping Centre, Harrogate, so that the town can compete more effectively with York and Leeds have been submitted to Harrogate Council.

The plans have been submitted by Tops Estates Plc which acquired the 145-year lease for £23 million in May, then immediately announced its plans to spend £10 million more on a stylish revamp.

If agreed, a new area will be added to the basement and extend shopping space by 60 per cent by enclosing the rear service yard and amphitheatre. Tops Estates say that their plan would make the building easily identifiable as a modern shopping centre from three sides, particularly for those arriving by car, taxi, train or bus.

Tops, which successfully regenerated Leeds Shopping Plaza, Bond Street and Tops Plaza in Liverpool, plans to re-position escalators between the four retail levels and create new seating and lighting within the malls.

Architects chosen for the project are The Colman Partnership in London and project architect is David Liddell who redesigned the award-winning Plaza in London's Oxford Street.

The Victoria Shopping Centre, built seven years ago at a cost of £50 million, is now expected to rake in a net £1.123 million a year in rents plus a potential £300,000 annually if it succeeds in filling now-empty units.

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