Work finally begins on Designer Outlet Cotswolds near Tewkesbury

Work has finally begun on site on a major 180-acre mixed-use development near Tewkesbury.

Led by Cheltenham property developer Robert Hitchins, the development will feature a designer outlet and lifestyle retail destination, a flagship garden centre, much-needed homes and a range of local amenities.

The Designer Outlet Cotswolds retail scheme will provide up to 90 shops, restaurants and cafés in a Cotswold-style village environment. The development will include the largest Dobbies Garden Centre in South West England and 850 homes complete with a school, local centre and recreation facilities.

Proposals for the new retail outlet centre near Tewkesbury were submitted to Tewkesbury Borough Council.in May.

Worcestershire-based Montel Civil Engineering has been appointed by Robert Hitchins as the main contractor for the first phase of infrastructure works needed to open up the development.

Gordon Jeynes, Technical and Residential Development Director of Robert Hitchins, said: “We are delighted that the infrastructure has now commenced. When completed, this will – in addition to the on-site works – include major improvements to the A46 fronting the development and improvements to Junction 9 of the M5.”

The start-on-site comes as the scheme has released a fly-through of the scheme on its website. The short video shows what the Designer Outlet Cotswolds retail and leisure destination, due to open in 2022, will look like.

The development, which is next to junction 9 of the M5 motorway near Tewkesbury, and close to Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester, Solihull and Hereford, is also within walking distance of the Ashchurch-for-Tewkesbury railway station, which is on the main line between Bristol and Birmingham.

Simon Tothill, Property & Development Director of Robert Hitchins, said: “We’re proud to be delivering such an attractive development into the Tewkesbury area and to be creating more than 1,000 jobs in the local area. It’s important that such developments progress as efficiently as possible through the planning and construction stages to create employment opportunities, especially to enable the area to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic. These are ‘real jobs’ and we all need to work together to promote success. As a result, our mixed-use scheme will be a great addition to this part of the West Country.”

The first phase of the retail and leisure is planned to open towards the end of 2022. Simon added: “There are a number of high-profile retail brands now committing to the scheme or in advanced dialogue.”

Robert Hitchins is working with ROS Retail Outlet Shopping on Designer Outlet Cotswolds. The Vienna-headquartered company, one of the top five outlet operators in Europe, currently manages 13 outlet centres in Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Croatia and Hungary. It specialises in developing, managing and operating innovative shopping concepts and its team brings together extensive management know-how from leading retail destination operators and real estate development companies.

The architect for Designer Outlet Cotswolds and the Dobbies Garden Centre is Roberts Limbrick based in Gloucester.