There are concerns that the Waterside Shopping Centre expansion may affect smaller shops in Lincoln.
The nine million pound expansion, alongside 40 tons of steel and 200 miles of wiring is set to be finished by autumn this year. Its current updates include better food facilities, free Wi Fi and a bigger New look. By the completion in autumn the project will also be bringing a Next and H & M to the centre.
The Centre itself has been constantly developing itself since its opening in 1991. It is currently home to the only Topshop and New Look in Lincoln. The nearest of ether of these shops is in Nottingham around a forty minute drive away.
As Lincolnshire is home to thousands of students it would appear having these shops to be an essential to accommodate its full time and part time residents.
However after speaking to students it appears they are not that impressed by the centre as it is, they also didn’t seem to think the expansion would make a massive difference to them. One student commented;
“I don’t think the expansion will make that much of a difference. I don’t really shop there at the minute because there isn’t much there and the Topshop is really small. If I need anything I would sooner get the train to Nottingham for a proper shopping day.”
Concerns have been that the new larger centre will completely deter residents from walking up steep hill, meaning the smaller shops up there could struggle.
Helen Barker has been up steep hill to speak to a small vintage shop, to see if it is concerned by the new development.