Creasey’s new top floors should be ready by spring
THE first new floors to be completed in the Creasey’s development of the former HSBC building should be returned to the company by spring next year.
The bank closed in 2017 and work installing scaffolding started in July last year.
The former HSBC building was gutted, which meant the floors could be re-established in line with those in the Creasey’s building, avoiding the need for steps or slopes, and increasing accessibility.
‘We’ll get the top two floors as well as the new building top-to-bottom back in spring next year, which really isn’t far away,’ said department store manager Stephen Mewha.
‘That will enable us to work on the rest of the store and bring it up to a similar specification.’
More than 400 tonnes of rubble was removed to make space for the new floors.
Three escalators are in the process of being installed.
The only other escalators in the island are at Creasey’s in Smith Street and Marks & Spencer in the High Street, while B&Q has a form of moving walkway.
The location of the restaurant has been moved up a floor, and will include an outside terrace for diners with sea views.
‘Due to the staircase being quayside, it means we can use the restaurant independently to the rest of the store, if we want to keep it open for an evening,’ said Mr Mewha.
Catering will not be immediate, however, as some trading departments will be moved to the top floor as the project continues.
‘We will be putting some trading areas up here initially, so department A will move up to the canteen and then there’ll be more space to work where department A currently is,’ said Creasey’s managing director Peter Creasey.
‘Everything will continue moving around until eventually in about two years time, everything will settle down in a permanent place.’
Some of the original granite walls that were uncovered during demolition will be kept and made into a feature.
Large and accessible changing rooms have been created, and each floor will be extended into the new building to increase the brands and items on offer.
A cold room and freezer has already been handed back and is in use, which is conjoined to the short tunnel in M&S where the bank's vaults used to be.
The development has been slightly affected by the high tides along the sea front, as its flood defences have been temporarily removed during the project.
