BCSC 'Golds' Award Winners 2005

Two out of four awards marking the UK's outstanding retail developments and retail destinations went to BDP designed projects at a major industry event last night (7 December 2005) in London.

Of the three new centres and one established centre which were honoured with BCSC Gold Awards, the two centres designed by BDP were Pescod Square, Boston and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol (an established centre).

BCSC, the UK retail property organisation's 'Golds' are the leading accolades within the shopping centre and retail destination industry. They are designed to reward excellence in retail-led developments that generate improvements to the quality of the built environment.  There are no specific categories in the Golds - new centres, extensions and refurbishments are amalgamated to enable the Jury to recognise any project that demonstrates innovation and excellence regardless of size, category or complexity.

Nigel Woolner, Chairman of the eight-strong BCSC Awards Jury said: "This year we have four winners who collectively demonstrate excellence in retail-led regeneration, the skilful use of management to develop established centres and, above all, a creative response to the new urban agenda, which BCSC has been at the forefront of promoting.

"The BCSC jury looked at 11 centres across the UK and Ireland and it faced a difficult task in regards to assessing the many different challenges that the developers, architects and retail partners faced in undertaking these projects. Of particular note was the level of skill with which the issues surrounding development in some of the UK's smaller towns are now being addressed."

Of Pescod Square, which was developed by Centros Miller, the Jury said:"This is a project that provides new retail and car parking in one of the UK's smaller towns and successfully extends the existing retail pitch. It is anchored on the local department store Oldrids, and it successfully relocates a listed building. The Pescod Hall, built in 1450, was moved 20 metres and is now occupied by fashion retailer Esprit as part of the development.

"This centre was some 17 years in evolution and its completion marks an important stage in the regeneration of east Lincolnshire."

The Mall at Cribbs Causeway was opened in 1998 and is owned by Prudential, JT Bayliss and Capital Shopping Centres.  The judges said: "The Mall is an established centre and it has seen significant growth in customer numbers over the last seven years, up to its present 14 million per annum.

"It has a proactive management programme and has achieved significant safety and environmental targets and established partnerships with the retailers, the community, the police and suppliers."