Page 35 - RLI September 2019

OUTLET PROFILE | DOWNTOWN GRANTHAM DESIGNER OUTLET

A Destination

Like No Other

Downtown Grantham Designer Outlet will deliver a

premium designer outlet experience that is set to be unique
in the market and unlike anything that has come before

when it opens in 2021. Here, RLI speaks with Richard
Broadhead, Managing Director at Oldrids & Downtown to

learn more about this pioneering scheme.

uch more than just a designer outlet centre, year after. This quick turnaround is being made possible as “The development will look and feel very different from your “Obviously we are drawing
Downtown Grantham Designer Outlet is a Oldrids & Downtown’s existing site already has the required typical designer outlet, not just putting Grantham on the map, inspiration from other outlet “The Downtown Grantham
major project that is regenerating an existing infrastructure in place. but the whole region as well,” he says. “The area has massive centres around the world, but Designer Outlet part of the
Mretail destination that has been successfully Ahead of this phase, leasing is already progressing well potential and is currently under-served in terms of the outlet also from industry-leading
trading for over thirty years and already attracts more as Oldrids & Downtown utilise its already established offer. We’re working closely with the local authorities to ensure retail and leisure destinations scheme will feature 107 shops
than two million shoppers each year. Once the scheme is connections within the retail industry. The company is that this project is a catalyst for wider regeneration, investment in general. We’re looking at over 220,000sq ft and be the
complete, projections suggest that an additional three and working in partnership with Freeport Retail, a leading and economic growth. The location is superb. We’re located what is out there, the exciting
a half million visitors will be drawn to the site, which will developer and operator of outlet centres in Europe that has directly on and visible from the A1, the UK’s third busiest things that people are doing heart of the project”
become a mixed-use retail and leisure development. recently launched The Village in France, which won ‘Best highway, which provides exceptional accessibility. In addition, an and the exciting things that
“The Downtown Grantham Designer Outlet part of New Outlet Centre’ at MAPIC in 2018. It has also brought aspiration for us is to have a dedicated railway station serving the people want, and we will integrate all of that as part of the
the scheme will feature 107 shops over 220,000sq ft and The Outlet Resource Group (TORG) on board to assist scheme, just like Bicester Village. We have an existing railway line development and the launch,” says Broadhead.
be the heart of the project,” explains Richard Broadhead, with international leasing and marketing. running adjacent to the site and meetings are underway about Looking forward, Broadhead acknowledges that a project
Managing Director of Oldrids & Downtown, the developers “The new outlet will feature a widespread portfolio of creating this in the future, which will provide further transport of this size will not be without its challenges, but he’s confident
behind the outlet. “It will also offer a major department store, premium brands and include new to market retailers,” explains connectivity to the site, particularly from London and the south.” about its deliverability.
large furniture and homeware store and a garden centre, Broadhead. “In terms of food and beverage, the outlet sector As a regeneration project, green thinking has been at the “Clearly there are certain things we have control over
along with leisure elements, a tourist information centre needs to raise the bar and we intend to do exactly that by heart of the development from the beginning, so everything and certain things we don’t but we’re firmly committed to
and a special training academy which is being developed in offering new and innovative concepts as part of the mix that is being designed with sustainability in mind. The scheme will bringing this development forward as quickly as possible. We
partnership with Grantham College, with the intention of people would not normally associate with an outlet.” integrate rainwater harvesting and solar power, with electric have had fantastic, widespread support from both the public
creating a centre of excellence for training in the fields of He goes on to highlight that the project is about charging points for vehicles and the landscaping is planned to and the business community. This has given us that extra
retail, hospitality and leisure.” placemaking and creating a destination that will truly blend be environmentally friendly. boost to move forward with the project and deliver what
Construction of the outlet will begin in the New Year, with together lots of different retail and leisure uses as well as So how will Broadhead ensure the outlet remains relevant everyone has been asking for - a destination like no other.”
an ambitious programme that is targeting an opening the offer an architecturally inspiring environment. and innovative, and where is inspiration being drawn from? www.downtowngranthamdesigneroutlet.com

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