Following approval of a £26m dining concept back in 2019 as part of the huge Lowry Outlet regeneration, Peel L&P has decided to rethink its plans – which originally consisted of a number of waterfront restaurants with canal-facing terraces. Halted as a result of the pandemic, Peel L&P will now place their focus on community needs – following consultations that have taken place since the pandemic hit.
Scrapping their original plan, the project formerly known as the ‘Watergardens’ will now see six new shipping containers erected on-site, where businesses will be able to “pop-up” at the leisure destination. In addition to the new pop-up approach, there’ll also be a number of outdoor dining terraces, too, each of which will overlook the Manchester Ship Canal at the waterside destination. For the community, Peel L&P will introduce ‘enhanced landscaping’, and is also looking to switch their focus to an indoor independent food hall and market and community space, which will help support local businesses and smaller independents – as opposed to the larger chain bars and restaurants that were originally planned for the space.
Under the new plans, Peel L&P will invest £5m per year for the next five years into the project. Stephen Wild, Peel L&P’s director for strategic investment and growth, said: “Since [the Watergardens permission] we have lived through a pandemic that has refocused our minds on what our local community needs,”
“Extensive consultation with those who live and work within Salford Quays during 2021 identified an appetite for an enhanced provision of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, markets or a market hall and a medical centre.”
“We’ve listened to all the views shared and we’re excited to have revised our plans to reflect what people have said. We hope this next phase of investment will enable the shopping centre to successfully play its part in the Quays town centre provision for the long term as the number of residents here grows.”
The rebrand of the Lowry Outlet has so far seen the addition of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here Jungle Challenge, which has been an instant hit with families.