Before The Malls were built, the site was occupied by a number of small residential and commercial properties and by the clothing factory of Gerrish, Ames and Simpkins.

These properties were demolished in 1967 as part of a major redevelopment of central Basingstoke, which aimed at providing a large, modern shopping centre.

The style and decor of both parts at this time was wholly unified even though the two sites were managed and leased by separate and completely independent companies.

[3] The Borough Council turned their focus on trying to find a way to bring substantial improvements to the centre, but this work was constrained by high occupancy levels and the number of sitting tenants on very long lets.

[4] In 2004, the leasehold was purchased by the St Modwen development group in partnership with Kuwait property investment company Salhia Real Estate.