Windsor Yards name could change – how you can have your say
A NEW cinema, hotel extension and renaming of Windsor Shopping Center is being considered by the owners – and you can have your say.
AEW UK Investment Management bought Windsor Yards last year hoping to rejuvenate the 260,700 square foot centre, which includes a mix of retail, hotels, supermarkets, car parks and residences, into a “modern development”.
A spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they are considering a number of changes to Windsor Yards in hopes of attracting more businesses – especially restaurants and bars – to move into the empty units and to be more receptive to the city’s nightlife economy. .
Some of the options include the possibility of a cinema, adding rooms to the Travelodge hotel by adding another floor to the building, a second hotel, residential construction to rent apartments, and public realm improvements.
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But the owners want to hear people’s views on the Windsor Yards rejuvenation at the former Fenwick unit at Windsor Yards on Thursday July 7 and Saturday July 9.
The spokesman said: ‘It’s for the rejuvenation of the mall rather than a rebuild. It’s about trying to bring life back to a mall that’s facing a lot of challenges right now.
“There are a number of unoccupied units and this is a significant potential investment in the center which would have definite benefits.”
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They added that if the rejuvenation plans go through, none of the businesses are required to close during the works.
When AEW UK bought Windsor Yards in May 2021, a petition was launched urging the new owners to consider changing the name to Duke of Edinburgh Court in honor of Prince Philip, who died on April 9, at the age of 99 years old.
Prince Philip (AP)
The mall’s name was changed by its former owners in 2017 from King Edward Court.
Residents believe the Windsor Yards name sounds like a “dirty, low-rent type name” and doesn’t match the area. Windsor MP Adam Afriyie also called for the name to be changed.
The spokesperson said: “We are only offering at this consultation event to basically give people the opportunity to suggest a name they feel is appropriate.
“We are not attached to the Windsor Yards name because we understand that it is not a particularly historic name.
“But that said, we’re also not saying we’re going to change our name. We just give people the opportunity at consultation events to tell us what they think is the most appropriate name, and once we see that feedback, we’ll review it and think about it.