Douglas Village shopping centre is on course to reopen next summer

Traders from the fire-damaged Douglas Village Shopping Centre are expecting an update from the owners on demolition work in mid-January.

Demolition works began at Douglas Village Shopping Centre last month after heavy machinery moved on site.

The demolition work, which is being overseen by Loftus Demolition, will see an area of the shopping centre that is equivalent to around 12% of the floor area dismantled before being rebuilt.

Trader’s received an email in recent days saying there should be an update on the situation in mid-January.

The shopping centre has been closed since a devastating car fire tore through the multi-storey car park in August.

With a major demolition and rebuilding job ahead, traders at the shopping centre have been told it will be next summer before they can move back in.

Speaking to The Echo recently, Bartosz Mieszala, manager of the shopping centre, said: “We’re on target to reopen in Summer 2020 which is the main thing.” Mr Miesla explained that the areas set for demolition include areas across all three floors of the shopping centre car park.

“The section we’re taking down runs from the top floor to the ground floor and this section is being taken down completely, all the way from the top,” he said.

“This work will bring us into next summer on schedule and we’re positive that we will stick to that.

“The good news is the process is underway,” he added.

“It’s quite transparent how important the shopping centre is to Douglas, the community and for footfall in the area.

“We all can’t wait for next summer when it’s back to normal.”