It’s a shopping centre like no other. Built in the 1970s, Broadwalk Shopping Centre is a maze of shops, leisure venues, a library and a dentist - and it might not be around for long, under plans by owners Redcatch Development Partnership.
The consortium wants to pull down the centre and replace it with 820 homes, a cinema, supermarket, restaurant, library and a dentist. There is strong opposition, however, with many locals against the number of homes and height of the proposed buildings.
There’s also concerns many of the businesses located inside the centre today will not be able to stay with retail space severely reduced. Meanwhile, several shops are already closing, including B&M and MW Freshfoods, amid growing uncertainty on the future of the site.
Have a look around the centre with this selection of pictures taken last week:
1. Main entrance
The view most people will know of the centre from the Wells Road | Alex Ross
2. Main shopping centre walkway
A sign highlights the shops at the centre as workers and visitors pass under it. At the rear, the shut-up B&M shop can be seen while two workers on the right walk toward the camera. | Alex Ross
3. Closed food outlet
Once famed for its signature Crispy Chicken and Bun Bo Nam Bo, Viet Kitchen has now closed. | Alex Ross
4. Converted shoe shop
Shoe Zone has been converted into a base for a local amateur dramatics company | Alex Ross