19th October 2009 - A week to go…

With just over a week left until the opening of the first shops within White River Place, the team is busy preparing an event for the whole town.

To mark the opening of the first shops within the new town centre shopping destination, plans are afoot for a plaque unveiling to be performed by The Mayor, Cllr Brian Palmer at the South Street entrance to the scheme. This is to be followed by music from The St Austell Town Band, entertainment from street circus performers and the chance for one lucky shopper to win a £1000 shopping spree. There will also be goody bag prizes for the first hundred shoppers queuing to see the ribbon cut.

With new Centre Manager, Claire Daniel now settled into her new role and the development progressing at pace and on schedule, excitement is building about the new stores that will open their doors on Thursday 29 October.

Claire comments: "As a lifelong resident of St Austell, I know how beneficial White River Place will be for the town. It was in response to this that we decided to make 29 October a day for the town and its people, to thank everyone for their support and patience and to give them the first chance to see their new shopping centre."

Sean Finlay, Director of White River Developments adds: "It is an extremely exciting, albeit busy, time. Years of work have got us to this point and, with just days left until the first stores of White River Place open to the public, we are keen to show the town what we have been creating for them. 29 October is set to be the beginning of something special for St Austell, with the first stores opening their doors and several more in advanced talks to open in the coming weeks and months.

"At 65% pre-let and with substantial continued interest from other retailers, White River Place is faring very well, particularly considering that even in bouyant economic times very few shopping centres open fully let. The level of interest White River Place has attracted, amongst both regional and national retailers, is a clear signal of confidence for the centre and for St Austell as a whole."

As a result of the development hundreds of new jobs have been created for the region. For the past three years, 300 contractors have been working full-time on site - the majority from the local area, and from next week the new retail teams will also begin work with Wikinson’s alone employing 95 people for their store. Peacocks and Bonmarche between them have recruited for a further 36 new jobs and with cleaning, security, management and further retail staff, White River Place represents a substantial wave of new jobs for St Austell.

£31.5 million is being invested in White River Place by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) with the rest of the funding coming from White River Developments.

Sandra Rothwell, Head of Regeneration in Cornwall for the RDA comments: "This development will provide a real opportunity for job creation and is important for Cornwall’s largest town to unlock its future business potential. Many new jobs are to be created once the scheme is fully open and all retailers trading - this will, undoubtedly, have huge economic benefits for St Austell and the surrounding areas. "

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