The detailed proposals were unveiled this week (22 April 2008) for the redevelopment of Linwood town centre, through a project that will replace the town's outdated shopping centre with state-of-the-art community and retail facilities. Since announcing its intention to redevelop Linwood Shopping Centre last year, Tesco has been consulting with local people and working with a team of expert architects to draw-up detailed designs for the development.
Commenting on the final plans, which were unveiled at a public event in Linwood's Tweedie Hall, Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager Jennifer Duncan, said:
"We greatly appreciate the patience which the community of Linwood has shown whilst we have been consulting on our proposals and working up detailed designs for the new town centre.
"The input of local people has been invaluable in helping us to develop proposals which meet the unique needs of Linwood and its community.
"The response to the designs has been fantastic. Over 300 people attended our Tweedie Hall launch and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We are now looking forward to submitting a planning application shortly and delivering this much needed regeneration project for the town."
To view the designs, please click here.
As part of an ongoing consultation with the local community, Tesco recently sought the views of young people from Linwood High School and St Benedict's High School on the future of Linwood town centre. The students, aged 14 and 15, met with the Tesco team and local community groups to discuss proposed regeneration plans for the local shopping centre, and to consider the question, "How can young people help Tesco build a fantastic Linwood?"
The students worked in groups to discuss their ideas on open spaces, roads and traffic with people involved in all levels of the regeneration plans, including architects, engineers, and representatives from community group Linwood Active, the Community Council and Renfrewshire Council.
Commenting on the consultation exercise, Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager Nick Gellatly said:
"I would like to thank the teachers and students from both Linwood High School and St Benedict's High School who volunteered their time and ideas this week. I would also like to thank Linwood Active and the various other representatives of the Linwood community who also helped make this day a success.
"Since the public exhibition in March, my colleagues and I have been delighted to continue to receive the thoughts and contributions of many people in the Linwood community.
"The young people who took part in our consultation will have the most to benefit from the regeneration of the town centre and it seems only appropriate that they should have a chance to share their views on what that town centre should look like.
"The feedback from the students clearly shows a desire to give Linwood a safe and thriving town centre, and Tesco definitely shares this desire. We hope we can continue to work with all members of the Linwood community to use these consultations as a foundation to create a town centre that everyone can be proud of."
Wendy Alexander MSP congratulates winners of the "Linwood's Future: Our town in 10 Years Time" poster competition. Gemma Gallacher from Our Lady of Peace Primary School was the overall winner, receiving 10,000 Tesco Computers for Schools vouchers.
Other winners included Tommy Willock from Clippens School, Shannon McBride from Woodlands Primary and Rebecca Dunn from East Fulton Primary.
Tesco have assumed responsibility for Linwood shopping centre. If you have concerns about any maintenance related issues please get in touch and make Tesco aware of the problem. Please call the community line on
0845 120 3001 or email community.line@tesco.net
We've had a tremendous response to our public exhibition with more than 500 people visiting the Tweedie Halls last week and more than 52,000 hits on this website. At the moment, we're collating all the feedback we received so that we can identify the key issues for local people.
It's fair to say that local people are passionate about Linwood and it was good to meet many of you last week. Once we've collated your thoughts - and comment cards are still coming in every day - we'll update you again.
Don't forget you can still send us your comments, here on this website or by emailing us at community.line@tesco.net. If you'd like to know more about Tesco generally why not have a look at Talking Tesco at http://www.tesco.com/talkingtesco/ .
Thank you for your warm welcome last week and we'll be in touch again soon.
Best wishes
Nick Gellatly
Corporate Affairs, Tesco Stores Ltd