Westwood Cross

Westwood Cross is an open, pedestrianised shopping centre located at Westwood, Kent, England. It opened in 2005, and since 2008 has incorporated a casino, bowling alley cinema and bingo hall.^{[1][5] [6][7]}

Westwood Cross

Sundial seat at Westwood Cross
Location	Westwood, Kent
Coordinates	51.360°N 1.393°E / 51.360; 1.393
Opening date	June 2005[1]
Developer	Carillion Richardson Partnership[2]
Owner	Land Securities[1]
No. of stores and services	46[1]
Total retail floor area	475,000 sq ft (44,100 m2)[1]
No. of floors	3[3]
Parking	1,500 spaces[4]
Website	Official website

History

Westwood Cross is situated on the site of the former Haine Hospital, which closed in June 1997 and was demolished in 2003. Construction required filling of a 10 metres (33 ft) deep railway cutting.^[3][8][7]

Developers claimed that Westwood Cross created 1,500 jobs in the Broadstairs area.^[9]

Kent County Council's decision to allow a 2008 expansion including leisure and gambling facilities was controversial. Church leaders said its location was tempting people who had never gambled before to give it a go. The scheme was eventually approved by the House of Lords.^[10][7]

In 2010, additional retail outlets were created by conversion of a former adjoining Wickes store.^[7]

A 2015 car park collapse beneath the Westwood Cross Primark store revealed underground tunnels believed to have been constructed during World War I training exercises. Researchers suggested they were subsequently used as air raid shelters for servicemen at Haine Hospital, and then sealed up.^[11][12]

Westwood Cross shopping centre

Kent Police put a 48 hour dispersal order on Westwood Cross in 2022 to control anti-social behaviour. The extra police powers were introduced after reports of teens abusing shop staff, shoplifting and nuisance scooter issues.^[13]