History
Opened in July 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II, Halton Lea, then called Runcorn Shopping City, was designed by the Chief Planner of Runcorn New Town, Arthur Ling, as the centrepiece of the massive development. It was the first 'American-style' shopping centre to be built in the United Kingdom and at the time was one of the largest shopping centres in Europe.
During that period the centre attracted huge numbers of shoppers brought by Runcorn's unique transportation system and its central location between Manchester and Liverpool. However this did not last, as the owners at that time, Grosvenor, pushed rents up in an attempt to capitalise on the centre's popularity. Spiralling rents soon saw many of the big names that were attracting shoppers close and move to centres with lower rents such as the Golden Square Shopping Centre in neighbouring Warrington.
In 1989 Asda Stores Ltd, then part of ASDA MFI, opened a 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m2) superstore on West Lane. The store was recently extended to 106,000 sq ft (9,800 m2). Some of the problems the centre was experiencing during the late 1980s and early 1990s were blamed on the ASDA Superstore; however, it arguably helped to keep the centre alive, bringing customers to the area during the centre's poorest years.
The centre suffered for many more years after Grosvenor sold the centre to its current owners, Peel Holdings. Poor management had left the centre in disrepair. Asbestos, building faults and out of date decor led to a huge redevelopment of the centre and eventually to its renaming to Halton Lea. Since then the centre has grown to include an outdoor mall named the Trident Retail Park, which hosts many big name shops such as Currys, JJB Sports, Blockbuster, TK Maxx and Fitness First. The flagship unit is a 9-screen cinema complex currently owned and operated by Cineworld.
In 2011 the centre was sold to F&C reit asset management for approximately £29.1million, F&C Reit intend to redevelop the centre and have begun with the redevelopment of the car parks.
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