Update on Terminus Road demolition

Seven machines are on site six days a week and have completed around 75 per cent of the demolition work along the Terminus Road stretch of shops from the former Gildredge Pub.

Although the demolition stage is expected to continue until the end of July, the remaining buildings along Terminus Road will have disappeared by the end of this month.

Rubble from the demolition is being crushed and will be used to create a base across the entire extension site to enable it to take the weight of the pile machinery.

The 170,000 sq ft extension – being funded by centre owners Legal & General and built by construction firm Kier – will bring an additional 22 new retail units, around 300 extra car parking spaces, seven restaurants and a nine-screen cinema to the town.

Neil Crawford, head of retail and leisure development for LGIM Real Assets, said, “Work is progressing well.

“The change is really significant now and it won’t be long before all the buildings will have gone and we can really start to visualise how the scheme will transform the town centre.

“We’re doing everything we can to minimise disruption while the development takes place and would like to thank everyone for their continued patience.”

Kevin Watts, the senior project manager for Kier, said, “We are pleased with progress.

“There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that takes time.”

Live footage from two time-lapse cameras recording the demolition work can be seen on the Arndale Centre’s website at http://www.astbournearndaleshopping.co.uk/