A town center shopping center is “in good health” and will not be converted into flats, bosses say.
Rumors circulating in Dover suggested Charlton Shopping Center would be bulldozed to make way for a residential development.
But management agents working on behalf of the site’s owners say there are no such plans and stress the center will remain open.
Built in 1981, the site is earmarked for 100 homes in Dover District Council’s Local Plan – a plan to see where homes in the district will be built up to 2040.
But Labour-led DDC, which is in the process of amending its plan, says a multi-storey car park at the back of the center is now the only part of the site being considered.
Simon Crowley, project manager at estate agents Tersons, who are working on behalf of the owners, says speculation surrounding the centre’s future is “nonsense”.
“Apparently the council is including the location in the regional plan without the consent of the owner, who does not plan to rebuild,” he said.
“I can say 100% that I had a meeting with the landlord three weeks ago and they are not considering redeveloping the site. There is nothing to this rumor.”
“The center is also in good health.
Charlton on the high street continues to survive despite stiff competition in the town from the giant retail and leisure park St James, which opened in 2018.
They feared the development would suck business out of traders in the rest of the town centre.
But Mr Crowley says there is “a lot going on” at the shopping centre, which is home to 22 units.
Its multi-storey car park has 300 spaces and is accessed via Crafford Street at the rear of the centre.
“The more it’s used, the more likely we can get a landlord to support improvements,” Crowley added.
“A 40-year-old building with no real investment since it was built is difficult to operate and costs a lot. People using shop and cafe facilities will help with this.
“Nobody will ever know how hard it is to stand still in the middle, but with the hard work of the shop over there, we’re trying to keep the wheels turning.”
The center is now a center for small and independent businesses rather than branches of chain stores.
It includes the base for community group Dover Big Local and the Dover Pantry, a shop fighting food poverty by selling in cheaper quantities.
Traders also include estate agents Dover Knit and Stitch, Burnap and Abel, The Mirror Man, which sells hand-engraved personalized mirrors, and Unity Sound, which offers recording, mixing and mastering services.
“It’s full of shops, has a large car park and is a handy shortcut between the High Street and Maison Dieu Road,” he added.
“At some point I believe the town center will move back to the High Street. There is less need to go to the precinct, for example because the banks have closed.”
In Market Square, NatWest is closing on July 16, Lloyds closed on April 11 and Barclays closed there in June 2021.
Halifax in the Biggin Street precinct closed in September 2022.
The news that Charlton is staying open has brought excitement and relief to customers.
Angela Such says she has been using the site, which now offers 14 upper-floor apartments, since it first opened.
“Now I know it’s going to stay open, I’m happy,” she said.
“I come here almost every day and have been using it since it opened. We wouldn’t be able to do anything without it.”
Ms. Such explained that she depends on the center for items such as food and furniture.
Her partner Jeffrey Knight said: “It’s a nice place to relax, we play bingo and eat in the canteen. It’s a stupid rumor.”
Another user of the centre, Tina Jenkins, said: “I’m glad the rumor isn’t true. I worked here in the cafe, I helped out, and I still come here sometimes.’
Fellow customer Dinah Miles said: “I meet my friends here, we shop in the cafe, we play bingo and we all have a laugh.
“I’ve been coming here for 28 years. Charlton is a really good place.”
One of the businesses there is Sleepyhead Beds.
In a joint statement, directors Chris Getliffe and Nabeel Mattardi said: “We have been serving the Dover community and surrounding areas for 11 years and will continue for another 11 years and beyond.
“Having established an established business in Dover and building relationships with our customers and suppliers, our growth will continue.
“We would like to thank all our customers for their continued support.”