10 Mar Construction Of Largest Garden Centre In The South West Continues
After signing a lease with Cheltenham-based developer Robert Hitchins Ltd, Dobbies Garden Centres, the leading garden centre operator in the United Kingdom, is on track to open its 75,000ft2 flagship store this summer.
Ward Williams Associates is working closely with the Regional Developer Robert Hitchins Ltd after being selected to provide Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Employer’s Agent services. The complete project team also includes Montel Civil Engineering, Barnwood Construction Limited, Roberts Limbrick Architects, Clarkebond, Hydrock and Orium.
The new store, to be built at junction 9 of the M5 near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, will be the largest Dobbies in South West England. The garden centre, on a greenfield site fronting the A46 trunk road, will feature the very best of Dobbies and is expected to serve more than 750,000 customers each year.
The centre will serve as the leisure anchor for the £60m Cotswolds Designer Outlet, which is currently under construction. Once open, visitors to Dobbies will be welcomed to an extensive outdoor sales area, a wide-ranging food hall complete with an on-site bakery, butchery and grocery, a 500 seat restaurant, an award-winning cookshop building format and a comprehensive pet department.
Graeme Jenkins, the Chief Executive Officer of Dobbies Garden Centres, said: “At Dobbies, we are committed to delivering our growth strategy and this is an exciting milestone in our plans. We are focused on a customer-first approach, and those visiting will be able to enjoy a full day of shopping and dining, with the UK’s latest retail destination, featuring household name premium fashion brands, just a short walk away. It will be an exceptional shopper experience.”
