TOWER Ramparts shopping centre in Ipswich is in line for an upgrade after its owners today revealed proposals for a revamp.But in an ominous warning to companies occupying the centre and customers, the Kandahar Group warned that some tenants would not be happy with the new developments.

TOWER Ramparts shopping centre in Ipswich is in line for an upgrade after its owners today revealed proposals for a revamp.

But in an ominous warning to companies occupying the centre and customers, the Kandahar Group warned that some tenants would not be happy with the new developments.

The company has not revealed how much it will spend on the redevelopment or exactly what the work would be involved but said the plans would be made public soon.

A statement from the company said: “A great deal of work has already been undertaken looking at exciting new plans for the centre and these will be made public as soon as they are complete.”

The Kandahar Group bought Tower Ramparts 18 months ago after being attracted to what it called Ipswich's “thriving retail economy”. However its time in the town has been anything but trouble-free.

Since the purchase the centre's major tenant, Littlewoods, announced it would close all its UK stores and while some were saved, the Ipswich store was among those to permanently close its doors.

That had major repercussions for Tower Ramparts as it lost its main draw for attracting shoppers to the centre.

Several weeks ago the Reflections Café and the Tower Restaurant also closed.

Kandahar has been searching for an appropriate tenant for the vacant Littlewoods store but so far no deals have been announced.

Today Kandahar said although the departure of Littlewoods was a significant setback for the centre, it has enabled the company to bring forward plans to redevelop Tower Ramparts.

But, in a warning about effects the plans would have on traders, the company said “it is regrettable that some long-standing Tower Ramparts tenants will not enjoy these new developments”.

Mike Sorhaindo, Tower Ramparts centre manager, said: “We are particularly sorry that Churchill Catering has decided to close the Reflections Café and the Tower Restaurant, especially since they have been at Tower Ramparts for such a long time.

“The dramatic investment in new catering offers in the town has shown that there is strong demand for modern food concepts in Ipswich. It is unfortunate that this new competition appears to have had a negative effect on the business of some traditional catering retailers.

“Our customers can rest assured that a good catering offer will be high in our future plans for the centre”.

Weblink: www.towerramparts.com