Shopping Centre Car Parks

[Martin1988]

Whenever I visit an indoor shopping centre I haven't been to before I'm always interested in going into the car park area and finding out what the method of access there is between the car park and the shopping centre.

Have been in a number of shopping centres around the country where there has seemingly only been lift access between the car park and the shopping centre and no corresponding staircase. Have seen this at some of the following locations:

Parts of The Oracle in Reading
Parts of The Pentagon Centre in Chatham
Parts of The Mall in Camberley
The Victoria Centre in Nottingham
The Wellington Centre in Aldershot

I've also been in a few places where the stairs between the car park and shopping centre have either been unmarked or designated for emergency use. The INTU Centre in Derby and The Orchards in Taunton stand out as examples of this. I seem to recall at one time the shopping centre in Leicester (I think High Cross) had lift access only with the stairs being designated as for emergency use but on my last visit a few years ago this had changed.

Is anybody able to offer any suggestion as to why there is not always stair access in shopping centre car parks like this? Is it to do with space issue, an assumption nobody will want to use the stairs or another reason?

 

[ComUtoR]

I've been to the Pentagon in Chatham quite a few times. You can park and access the shopping center quite easily without ever needing stairs or a lift. You can even access the main shopping center car park and just use stairs.

 

[eMeS]

...
Is anybody able to offer any suggestion as to why there is not always stair access in shopping centre car parks like this? Is it to do with space issue, an assumption nobody will want to use the stairs or another reason?

Perhaps they assume that there will never be any loss of power to the lifts; or perhaps they've invested in backup diesel generators as we did during the 1970s, and in later new build office buildings.

 

[MotCO]

At the Glades in Bromley, the escalators only go from the car park to the top floor of the centre - you then need to find the stairs or a lift to go down. Not very helpful.

Slightly OT, but I was pleased to find that the multi-storey car park in Whitney was free - it was a good incentive to go there.

 

[xc170]

Visited Intu Derby so many times and until now I didn't know the carpark was lift only... will have to check next time I'm there!

 

[Puffing Devil]

Security - stairwells are a haven for shoplifters, muggers and urinators.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Don't they have to have stairwells as emergency escape routes, though?

Or is it considered that the ramps fulfill this requirement?

 

[Martin1988]

I've been to the Pentagon in Chatham quite a few times. You can park and access the shopping center quite easily without ever needing stairs or a lift. You can even access the main shopping center car park and just use stairs.

I seem to remember one entrance to the car park (Very possibly the 'Green' section) which I think was adjacent to a Sainsbury's only having lifts and no stairs. Also from what I remember those particular lifts didn't serve the first level of the shopping centre and went straight from the ground level to level 2.

I also seem to recall the map at INTU Derby having the stairs highlighted but then they were not signposted as being available for public use when you came to use them. They either said "Fire exit" or were not signposted at all.

 

[xc170]

Don't they have to have stairwells as emergency escape routes, though?

Or is it considered that the ramps fulfill this requirement?

As I guess I'd say they will have stairwells, but behind fire escape doors.

 

[najaB]

Don't they have to have stairwells as emergency escape routes, though?

Or is it considered that the ramps fulfill this requirement?

The ramps wouldn't be enough - what if the burning vehicle was on or near the ramps?

 

[Lucan]

Maybe the ramps - unless a panicking motorist ploughs down them in his car.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Stourbridge's ryemarket car park has lifts for the shopping centre, but also has a stairwell that starts right outside the side entrance to the car park.