CHALLENGlNG REGENERATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR: TOLLGATE SHOPPING CENTRE, SMETHWICK, WEST MIDLANDS

摘要

The Judges Were Unanimous In their choice of Thomas Vale as the out and out winner of this category. "A strong example of transforming an area that few people had an interest in or were prepared to help regenerate," they said. What Thomas Vale did to earn this praise, and indeed this prize, was to take the outdated and underused Tollgate Shopping Centre in Smethwick, West Midlands, and turn it into a pleasant, welcoming and functional environment with a budget of just £700,000. This was achieved by getting the architect, contractor and developer on board at an early stage and ensuring all designs were as cost-effective and functional as possible. A challenge it certainly was, but not one to defeat Thomas Vale.