St George's Square Development.... The next stage...

Works to The Malls £20 million St George's Square development have been underway since last December and things are moving quickly.

The main building contractor Balfour Beatty started the build after the demolition of the old site had been completed. The scheme, which is due for completion in autumn 2010, will bring 75,000 sq ft of high quality new shopping, cafes and restaurants to Luton, including TK Maxx who will become the anchor with their new 38,000 sq ft store, and Argos will be relocating to a new 15,000 sq ft store. A further five units will be available to be used for restaurants and cafes.

A clear view of the works can be seen from the top steps of the temporary staircase linking St George's Square with The Mall. From here shoppers can see the erection of a concrete core, the first of two, which will form the shaft for the development's lifts and will also provide stability for the structural steel frame. In the coming weeks 700 tonnes of steel will be delivered to site to enable the build of the structural steel frame to begin. These works are planned to be conducted in two phases and are anticipated to be complete by the end of November this year.

Work to the installation of the main drainage system under the footprint of the building is now complete, just awaiting final connection to the main sewers within the Mall's service road, which will be carried out shortly.

But the main visual development for shoppers is the new decoration to the hoarding which borders St George's Square. The hoarding features The Mall's vibrant branding alongside information on the development and The Mall's work with the local community.

Brian McFarland, General Manager of The Mall said: "It's exciting to see all our plans coming to life with the works now in full swing. The next few months will see the new 'face' of the shopping centre really take shape as the structural steel frame is erected."