Charter Place rebuild delayed

Plans to rebuild Charter Place have now been delayed, despite the company behind the project submitting a planning application earlier this year. Intu, which is leading the £100 million project, asked that the scheme be deferred at a meeting of Watford Borough Council’s development control committee on November 21. Intu asked that the delay be made so that the rebuild scheme could be considered at the same time as a linked application concerning Lloyds TSB in Watford High Street. The Lloyds building is listed and is due to be partially demolished as part of the redevelopment plans. The council agreed to defer voting on the development at the meeting. The project will focus upon enhancing Watford’s overall retail, entertainment and leisure offer, and will include a cinema, restaurant line up, family entertainment, new retail brands and a food store. The new facilities will also be supported by a 740 space car park. The proposed development will create around 1,125 additional new jobs across the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, and up to 500 temporary construction jobs supported during the construction phase. Jonathan Ainsley, asset management director at Intu, said: “The £100 million investment across both Watford shopping centres is aimed at transforming Watford and creating the best place in the region for people to shop high quality brands and spend their leisure time”. Intu runs intu Watford, the former Harlequin Centre which adjoins Charter Place, and also intends to refurbish this centre.