Gunwharf Quays – popular with day-tripping Islanders – is to get a £45million makeover under plans submitted to Portsmouth City Council.
Gunwharf Quays owner, Landsec, has submitted a planning application to Portsmouth City Council as part of a £45m investment to improve the look and feel of the centre, create a more memorable experience for visitors and build on its position as the UK’s leading waterfront outlet shopping destination.
The 1st phase focuses on The Avenues – home to 42 premium retail brands and visited by 6.4million people that come to Gunwharf Quays each year. Proposed works include new flooring, lighting and décor upgrades, and updated signage to improve the guest experience.
In addition to these works, Gunwharf Quays has committed to installing a new solar PV system in Spring next year, which supports its ambitions to improve energy efficiency, lower its carbon emissions and have a more positive impact on its surrounding environment.
Yvonne Clay, Centre Director at Gunwharf Quays commented:
“Gunwharf Quays is already a special place that brings people, premium retail and great dining experiences all together in the only destination of its kind in the UK. We want our guests to enjoy a memorable experience from the moment they arrive, to when they leave, and when they come back to visit us again.”
“These improvement works will ensure our retailers continue to flourish and benefit from an environment that best helps them to connect with their customers. This investment demonstrates our confidence that retail and Gunwharf Quays will continue to be a key contributor to creating long-term value for Portsmouth.”
If approved, works to The Avenues will commence in early 2024 and complete in early 2025.
The planning submission follows Gunwharf Quays’ newly announced partnerships to support young people into employment opportunities. Gunwharf Quays is joining forces with Ahead Partnership to deliver education and work experience-led programmes for local young people in Portsmouth. In a 3-year commitment with Portsmouth University, Gunwharf Quays will provide bursary support for students studying courses related to retail and real estate.
The partnerships are funded by Landsec’s new social impact programme, Landsec Futures, a £20million fund which aims to bring more value to the communities where Landsec invests.
Very impressive, meanwhile Ms Pereras Isle of Wight council is overseeing the decline of our towns. Lots of managers in county hall with nothing left to manage.
I’m in no way defending the Isle of Wight Council, but this investment in Gunwharf Quays is by the owners not the Council.
Walk around other parts of Portsmouth away from Gunwharf Quays and they’re run-down with empty shops etc in the main streets just like towns here on the Island.
What we don’t have though is a large shopping centre, or outlet, like Gunwharf. But, would anyone build one here where there’s a relatively small number of potential customers? And would people even want one?
In the current climate what a waste of money.
Mind your own business. The private owner of this shopping centre can do what they want to improve their business.
Solent and Whightline Cruises day trips to there will be great still.
The most memorable thing about going to gunwharf quays 2 weeks ago was the freaking £73 charge for 2 return on the bloody hovercraft.
Never again will I use that heap of junk rip off service…. I could have taken the car over on certain sailing on the car ferries for that price.
Let this be a warning to anyone planning a trip to gunwharf.
No one made you book the hovercraft and you knew the prices when you booked. Ferry would have been far cheaper. Stop moaning about your own stupidity.