BDP wins multimillion-pound Leeds shopping centre scheme

BDP has been appointed to a multimillion-pound refurbishment project at the Merrion Shopping Centre in Leeds.

The firm will act as architect, sustainability engineer, lighting designer and landscape architect for the scheme, which will commence early in 2012.

The project will be delivered for property and investment company Town Centre Securities, and has been approved by Leeds council.

Around 7,500m² of existing retail space will be redeveloped into a leisure destination with bars, cafes, restaurants, and a gym. There will also be an outdoor area designed to promote continental-style café culture, with increased retail frontages, new trees and high quality external finishes.

The 1,000 space multi-storey car park which sits above the leisure and retail units will be completely refurbished and upgraded.

Ian Purser, architect director at BDP said: “This scheme will create a new destination in an area of regeneration, effectively opening up a ‘new front’ to the Merrion Centre while utilising the existing structure and incorporating contemporary food and beverage facilities.”

Completion is scheduled for 2013 to coincide with the opening of the 13,500 capacity Leeds Arena, based opposite the shopping centre.