Partner announced for Chandos St

During the selection process, Wilson Bowden Developments demonstrated their ability to be able to implement a scheme providing a major addition to the retail offer of Leamington town centre. Development of the site should create approximately 175,000sq ft of new retail space, a new 500 space shoppers’ car park and a small number of apartments. The development will be anchored with a full scale major national Department Store, together with a number of other units, aiming to attract new retailers, within a scheme that enhances the character of the town.

Development of a new scheme will sustain the position of Leamington as an important retail centre and maintain its competitive edge against many other centres in the area that are undergoing expansion and redevelopment.
Councillor John Hammon, Chairman of the Steering Group overseeing the project said: “We are pleased to announce Wilson Bowden as our preferred development partner for Chandos Street. The future success of Leamington Town Centre depends upon continued investment and the attraction of major new retailers, including a new department store. Following an exhaustive selection process, we believe that Wilson Bowden have demonstrated their ability to produce a scheme that will provide what is required and enhance the character of the town.”

Simon Russian, Development Director for Wilson Bowden Developments said: “We are delighted to be working with Warwick District Council again; the proposed scheme will further enhance the towns’ retail offering providing larger units for modern retailers, and a much needed additional Department Store to satisfy the demand within the area. We are confident that we can deliver a quality development which will meet the aspirations of all concerned”.

Progress towards the development of additional retail floor space in Leamington Town Centre is in accordance with government advice for councils to be proactive in ensuring the vitality and viability of their town centres. Leamington town centre is subject to intense competition from other shopping centres in close proximity and must improve and develop its retail offer to maintain its attraction.

Earlier research work undertaken by consultants on behalf of the Council has shown that there is unmet demand in the area for comparison goods shopping. The approach to securing a new development within the Town Centre is based on the need to secure additional shopping floor space that will meet the space requirements of major retailers who are not already represented in the town and for whom there is limited opportunity for the store sizes they require. It has also been the objective of the Council to secure a major national department store and the current approach has been targeted at securing such an occupier.

The site is centred on the Council’s current car park at Chandos Street, though it is anticipated that the development would extend beyond its immediate boundaries and take in adjoining properties to link into the existing urban framework. The incorporation of a shoppers’ car park will more than offset the loss of spaces as a result of the development of the surface car park.

Any development will be expected to be of the highest quality and to complement the existing character of the town.
Depending on progress on what is a complex project, it is possible that the scheme could be completed and open for trading by Christmas 2012.