Coppergate Shopping Centre
Encyclopedia
Coppergate Shopping Centre is a Shopping Centre in the centre of York
in North Yorkshire
, England
.
factory. There they unearthed remains of 10th century Viking-age buildings surrounded by moist, spongy layers of earth similar to that of a peat bog- the damp conditions had helped to preserve everyday Viking items such as wood, leather, cloth, bugs and even a Viking toilet and its contents. Over 40,000 objects were uncovered by excavating 36,000 layers and sieving eight tonnes of soil. Everything in Jorvik Viking Centre
is based on evidence unearthed during the Coppergate excavations undertaken between 1979–81 by York Archaeological Trust
. When the extent and importance of the discoveries at Coppergate were realised, plans were made to allow permanent display of the remains of Jorvik within the excavation area. York Archaeological Trust created the Jorvik Viking Centre
which opened to the public in April 1984.
. Owned by La Salle Investment Management since February 2008, the centre is an open-air shopping promenade with covered walkways, and large public squares with fountains and planting beds, set with seats and coffee shops. Also included is St Mary's Church, which now displays modern art. This outdoor area is used to host brass bands, theatre productions and other events from York's many festivals.
, it is within in easy walking distance of public transport facilities, including York railway station
. Many bus services are operated by First York
and park and ride services are available. There is an on site multi-storey car park.
. Retailers set to anchor the scheme included a new enlargened Debenhams
and others. However the reaction from the public was negative and a petition was launched, this prompted a public inquiry and in September 2003 the scheme was turned down by the government. The level of opposition was due to some of parts of the shopping centre being in extremely close proximity to Clifford's Tower. Since then Debenhams
have announced plans to open a second store at the Monks Cross Shopping Park in addition to their store in the city centre. It is widely expected that another redevelopment plan will be sought for the Coppergate Centre as the new owners, La Salle Investment Management, appointed regeneration specialists Centros as development manager for the scheme. Centros will start discussions with York City Council over initial designs for a mixed-use scheme in the area of the city bounded by Piccadilly, Coppergate and Clifford’s Tower. The scheme is likely to include retail, leisure and residential uses. Centros has appointed architects and professional advisers to the scheme. CZWG and Holder Mathias will collaborate on designs , while property consultants King Sturge
will provide both leasing and development consultancy and planning advice.
In January 2009, LaSalle revealed plans to expand five of the shop units, giving an extra 175 square metres of retail space. LaSalle’s plans also included a new logo, incorporating a copper-coloured ‘C’ combined with a green ‘g’, which will be used on new signs at entrances and exits to the centre. The large overhead signs at the main pedestrian entrance from Coppergate will be replaced, and new signs added at strategic points in the centre. The company also wanted to refurbish canopies outside some of the stores. There would also be some improvements to paving. LaSalle wanted two kiosks which would sell high-quality, non-alcoholic drinks, such as juice, and which might have seating areas for customers. It was also hoping to refurbish the seating area in the centre of the square. The aim is to improve the appearance and facilities at the centre to attract more shoppers. Separate, bigger-scale plans to extend the Coppergate Centre on to land between Clifford’s Tower and Piccadilly were still being worked up by regeneration specialists Centros. The plans were subject to approval from City of York Council.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Prior to the development of the shopping centre, archaeologists started digging on the site, which had been a sweetConfectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
factory. There they unearthed remains of 10th century Viking-age buildings surrounded by moist, spongy layers of earth similar to that of a peat bog- the damp conditions had helped to preserve everyday Viking items such as wood, leather, cloth, bugs and even a Viking toilet and its contents. Over 40,000 objects were uncovered by excavating 36,000 layers and sieving eight tonnes of soil. Everything in Jorvik Viking Centre
Jorvik Viking Centre
The JORVIK Viking Centre is a museum and visitor attraction in York, England. It was created by the York Archaeological Trust.- Background :Cravens, a firm of confectioners founded in 1803, relocated from their factory in Coppergate, a street in central York, in 1966...
is based on evidence unearthed during the Coppergate excavations undertaken between 1979–81 by York Archaeological Trust
York Archaeological Trust
The York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Limited is an educational charity, established in 1972 in the City of York. It carries out archaeological investigations, fieldwork, excavation and research in York, Yorkshire and throughout Britain and beyond.It also created and now runs...
. When the extent and importance of the discoveries at Coppergate were realised, plans were made to allow permanent display of the remains of Jorvik within the excavation area. York Archaeological Trust created the Jorvik Viking Centre
Jorvik Viking Centre
The JORVIK Viking Centre is a museum and visitor attraction in York, England. It was created by the York Archaeological Trust.- Background :Cravens, a firm of confectioners founded in 1803, relocated from their factory in Coppergate, a street in central York, in 1966...
which opened to the public in April 1984.
Centre information
The shopping centre houses many shops, cafe's and museums, including the Jorvik Viking CentreJorvik Viking Centre
The JORVIK Viking Centre is a museum and visitor attraction in York, England. It was created by the York Archaeological Trust.- Background :Cravens, a firm of confectioners founded in 1803, relocated from their factory in Coppergate, a street in central York, in 1966...
. Owned by La Salle Investment Management since February 2008, the centre is an open-air shopping promenade with covered walkways, and large public squares with fountains and planting beds, set with seats and coffee shops. Also included is St Mary's Church, which now displays modern art. This outdoor area is used to host brass bands, theatre productions and other events from York's many festivals.
Transport links
As the Coppergate Centre is in the middle of YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, it is within in easy walking distance of public transport facilities, including York railway station
York railway station
York railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
. Many bus services are operated by First York
First York
First York is the largest bus operator in York, England. It is part of First Group, a major bus and train operator with a turnover of nearly £2.5 billion a year and 62,000 employees across the UK and North America...
and park and ride services are available. There is an on site multi-storey car park.
Retailers
There are nineteen shops and cafes in the centre, including:- Boots
- Evans (clothing)
- Fenwicks
- Jorvik Viking CentreJorvik Viking CentreThe JORVIK Viking Centre is a museum and visitor attraction in York, England. It was created by the York Archaeological Trust.- Background :Cravens, a firm of confectioners founded in 1803, relocated from their factory in Coppergate, a street in central York, in 1966...
- Marks and Spencer
- Miss SelfridgeMiss SelfridgeMiss Selfridge is a nationwide UK high street store which began as the young fashion section of Selfridges department store in London in 1966. Miss Selfridge got its name when Charles Clore, the owner of Selfridges at the time, saw a window display in the Bonwit Teller store in New York which...
- RymanRymanRyman is the largest British stationery retailer, historically based in London, now based in its £100m headquarters in Crewe, Cheshire.-Formation:...
- StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
- The Body ShopThe Body ShopThe Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
- TopshopTopshopTopshop is a British clothes retailer with shops in over 20 countries and online operations in a number of its markets. Its sales come primarily from women's clothing and fashion accessories...
and TopmanTopmanTOPMAN is the stand-alone fashion business counterpart of Topshop that caters exclusively to men’s clothing. A part of the Arcadia Group, which also owns Burton, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans, British Home Stores and Dorothy Perkins, Topman has a chain of high-street men's clothing stores located...
Redevelopment plans
In 2001 developers launched a £60 million development scheme entitled 'Coppergate II' to redevelop the centre, including demolition of the existing centre and a new build project with shops either side of the River FossRiver Foss
The River Foss is an improved river in North Yorkshire, England, and a tributary of the River Ouse. It rises in the Foss Crooks woods near Oulston reservoir close to the village of Yearsley and runs south through the Vale of York to the Ouse...
. Retailers set to anchor the scheme included a new enlargened Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
and others. However the reaction from the public was negative and a petition was launched, this prompted a public inquiry and in September 2003 the scheme was turned down by the government. The level of opposition was due to some of parts of the shopping centre being in extremely close proximity to Clifford's Tower. Since then Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
have announced plans to open a second store at the Monks Cross Shopping Park in addition to their store in the city centre. It is widely expected that another redevelopment plan will be sought for the Coppergate Centre as the new owners, La Salle Investment Management, appointed regeneration specialists Centros as development manager for the scheme. Centros will start discussions with York City Council over initial designs for a mixed-use scheme in the area of the city bounded by Piccadilly, Coppergate and Clifford’s Tower. The scheme is likely to include retail, leisure and residential uses. Centros has appointed architects and professional advisers to the scheme. CZWG and Holder Mathias will collaborate on designs , while property consultants King Sturge
King Sturge
King Sturge was an international property consultancy with over 210 offices and 4,200 staff in 45 countries. They operated throughout the UK and Europe and had associations and partners in Asia Pacific and North, Central and South America...
will provide both leasing and development consultancy and planning advice.
In January 2009, LaSalle revealed plans to expand five of the shop units, giving an extra 175 square metres of retail space. LaSalle’s plans also included a new logo, incorporating a copper-coloured ‘C’ combined with a green ‘g’, which will be used on new signs at entrances and exits to the centre. The large overhead signs at the main pedestrian entrance from Coppergate will be replaced, and new signs added at strategic points in the centre. The company also wanted to refurbish canopies outside some of the stores. There would also be some improvements to paving. LaSalle wanted two kiosks which would sell high-quality, non-alcoholic drinks, such as juice, and which might have seating areas for customers. It was also hoping to refurbish the seating area in the centre of the square. The aim is to improve the appearance and facilities at the centre to attract more shoppers. Separate, bigger-scale plans to extend the Coppergate Centre on to land between Clifford’s Tower and Piccadilly were still being worked up by regeneration specialists Centros. The plans were subject to approval from City of York Council.