Changes in store Homes and shops near M5
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A new designer outlet planned for near the M5 in Gloucestershire will bring thousands of shoppers to the area and transform the region when it opens in 2022.
The six acre new retail and leisure destination called Designer Outlet Cotswolds will be built just off the A46 near Ashchurch and the M5 Junction 9 for Tewkesbury.
It is due to open in 2022 and is hoped to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area.
Project managers Retail Outlet Shopping says:
“Designer Outlet Costwolds is a new premium outlet shopping destination in the heart of England. “Located between Bristol and Birmingham with excellent connectivity the development will provide more than 90 fashion and lifestyle brands at 30-70% off RRP all year round.”
And there could be big rewards for the retailers involved. Tourists to the Cotswolds bring £3.6billion to the area annually. Planners hope that estimated spend at Cotswold Designer Outlet will be £317m – placing it within the top UK outlet centres.
The outlet will be on the A46 near Ashchurch Industrial Estate.
It’s right next to Junction 9 of the M5 for Tewkesbury and Ashchurch, a junction which is also used by people heading to Evesham, Pamington and Bishop’s Cleeve.
Aimed at retailers who might want to move into the outlet centre, the marketing brochure tells them that ‘the population within a 30-minute drive is particularly affluent and fast-growing’ and adds that there are almost 10 million people living within 90 minutes.
Some 21 million cars pass the site annually.
The whole site is made up of 25,716 sqm (276,800 sq ft) – more than 6.3 acres.
The shopping village will be 18,116 sqm (195,000 sq ft) and will be opened in two phases. Phase 1, with around 67 shops, will be approx 13,006 sqm (140,000 sq ft) with 2,100 parking spaces.
It will also be joined by a 7,600 sqm (81,800 sq ft) flagship garden centre. The existing M&S Simply Food, petrol station and Starbucks on the A46 is also part of the development.
There will also be 850 homes, a primary school and a ‘local centre’ for shops and services built on adjacent fields.
Fashion will be the main attraction with this making up 50 per cent of shops.
This will be joined by sport and out- door brands making up 20 per cent, shoes and accessories 12 per cent, home & lifestyle products 10 per cent, five per cent food and beverage and four per cent kids wear.
The architecture will be ‘inspired by the historic towns and chocolate box villages of this picturesque part of England’ to ‘provide contemporary and adaptable retail units within an attractive, vibrant and sustainable setting.’
This will be accompanied by ‘a strong food and beverage offer’ and the garden centre.
There will also be a kids’ playground for little ones.
Other perks include free Wi-Fi, ATMs and VIP services such as a personal shopper.
The developer estimates it will ‘generate 818 individual jobs.’
You might also get the chance to bump into a celebrity as the Designer Outlet owners have a past history of inviting VIPs to promote events at the outlet.
It says it has previously invited stars such as Bo Derek, Mischa Barton and even Spice Girl Mel C to special events.
Source: Gloucestershire Echo. Written by Sophie Flowers
