Talks are taking place about a possible deal to regenerate the Riverside Shopping Centre site in Evesham.
Wychavon can confirm negotiations with the current owner and investment partners are progressing. If successful, the building will be brought into public ownership and demolished before being redeveloped.
Cllr Chris Day, Leader of Wychavon District Council, said: “We have a strategic commitment in our We Are Wychavon Plan to redevelop the Riverside Shopping Centre by March 2028, and we’re making good progress on that promise.
“We don’t have a timeline for a deal at the moment because there are still a lot of hurdles to get over, but we’re closer to reaching an agreement now than we have ever been.
“As soon as we can share more details with the public we will, but it’s important to point out even if a deal is reached, there are no quick fixes. It’s a complex building in a conservation area. It will need to be demolished and a development partner appointed. At the same time, we must make sure what we are doing is value for money and is the right thing for Evesham.”
The Evesham Town Centre Investment Prospectus, published in 2022, identified the Riverside Shopping Centre redevelopment as a site with the potential to spark the wider regeneration of the town centre. It proposes creating a mixed residential, retail and leisure development while linking the town centre, Abbey Park, The Bell Tower, Almonry Museum, Market Square and Public Hall.
“There are exciting opportunities ahead for Evesham, and all of Wychavon’s town centres. We’re unwavering in our commitment to take advantage of them,” Cllr Day added.
Wychavon is also considering legal options to make sure the Riverside Shopping Centre is properly maintained after complaints from residents about the centre’s condition.
“It’s obvious the Riverside Shopping Centre has fallen into an unacceptable condition and the blame for that sits solely with the current owner,” Cllr Day said.
“We have tried getting the owner and their agents to take action on this issue. While improvements have been made occasionally, it falls far short of what’s needed. That’s why I have now asked officers to look at our legal options to ensure the site is regularly and properly maintained while work on a longer-term solution continues.”
