Developer takes control of The Atrium site

The keys to The Atrium site were handed over in a ceremony today by Portfolio Holder Cllr Richard Brooks to Health and Safety Officer Matt Juma from Laing O'Rourke, which is the principal contractor. The 242,000sq ft site in the heart of Camberley, west of The Mall Main Square and Park Street was identified in the 1980's by Surrey Heath Borough Council as a longer term sustainable development opportunity for Camberley, while in the short term it provided extra car parking spaces for the town.

With plans for the development of the site now approved and a start on site imminent, the car park has been handed to the developers to make it ready for construction.

On completion, The Atrium will bring a new cinema, bowling, shops, restaurants, cafés and apartments, as well as 680 public car parking spaces, with the new shops and leisure names for the scheme to be announced shortly.

Corporate Portfolio Holder Cllr Richard Brooks, who oversees Camberley Town Centre, commented: "Today is an important milestone for Camberley. By handing over the site management to Crest Nicholson our development partner, it can be made ready so that works can commence to bring a vibrant scheme to Camberley."

He added: "The site has been a car park for many years so it will take motorists time to adapt to using the alternative car parks in Camberley. Surrey County Council has agreed signage for motorists that will be displayed on all approach roads and there are enforcement powers to deter motorists who try to cause local residents problems by parking irresponsibly. We would ask motorists to use the Knoll Road MSCP or the Main Square MSCP which together provide more than 1,700 car parking spaces. We have been handing out maps with directions for the past week. Fortunately the town is also well served with buses and trains that will continue to operate."

Martin Mortimer of Crest Nicholson Regeneration said: "The Atrium is a very exciting scheme, bringing to Camberley a wider variety of things to do and places to shop, giving people of all ages more reasons to visit the town centre. We are very pleased to be in position to be starting construction very soon after a lot of hard work behind the scenes in the last few years. Today's handover allows us to start making the area ready for the start on site of the main works, which are due to begin shortly."

Although Charles Street North and South and St Mary's Road car parks have closed, The Mall Main Square multi-storey car park and Knoll Road car park - a total of 1,702 spaces - will remain open as usual.

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Ref: News 327

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