A RESTAURANT precinct and town square included in the $45 million redevelopment of the Floreat Forum Shopping Centre will bring a new focus to the Town of Cambridge.
Centre owners General Property Trust plan to include a licensed brasserie, four restaurants, two cafes and 300sqm of alfresco dining area.
The concept of the precinct arose from market research by centre manager Lend Lease, with a focus group of shoppers indicating a meeting place was needed.
“There seemed to be a demand for some form of eatery but not necessarily a food hall,” centre manager Aggie Aitken said.
“People were also looking
for somewhere to dine outside
of Subiaco and Claremont.
“The Forum is a good place for such a precinct, as there is not one in the area, only small pockets of one or two individual restaurants.”
Ms Aitken also said the precinct effectively was extending the operating hours of the area, with restaurants able to open later at night. The opening hours of the restaurants would complement those of the planned library facility and new gym.
The town square also would be bordered at the northern end by a new $6 million library and council facilities to be built by the Town of Cambridge.
Town of Cambridge chief executive officer Graham Partridge said the precinct would breathe new life into the Forum, which had been a focal point for the area since it opened in 1965.
“Market research indicated that this is what the public wants, that there is obviously a demand for it,” Mr Partridge said.
“The extended operating hours of both the restaurants and library will give more life to the area after hours and simply make this town centre much more attractive to the public in general.”
Work on the Forum refurbishment started in August. The project also will involve the extension of the shopping centre, boosting retail space from 14,000sqm to 19,000sqm, and the replacement of the Forum’s landmark circus tent roof.
