Plans to build the leading outlet shopping and leisure destination in the North of England have been unveiled, along with the first 23 brands to sign-up including BOSS, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, Levi’s, Mint Velvet, Joules, Gap and Skechers. Scotch Corner Designer Village, situated at one of the UK’s most well-known locations on the A1(M) in North Yorkshire, is predicted to become the pre-eminent outlet destination for the North of England. The 250,000ft² scheme will feature up to 92 units in the first phase, 10 of which will be a range of casual dining restaurants and cafés. The developer, Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, is investing €105.8m (£90m) into the first phase of the scheme.
With a large predicted customer base of affluent regional shoppers, a sizeable catchment of local residents, passing motorists from the adjacent motorway and trunk roads, significant tourist numbers, and an easy-to-get-to location, Scotch Corner Designer Village is attracting premium and best of high street retailers, plus selected independent brands. Based on research by Ken Gunn Consulting, the development will be a top-six UK outlet centre by expected visitor spend. Some 50%, by floor area, of the development, is now let or in solicitors’ hands, with a further 15% in detailed negotiations.
Simon Waterfield, developer and co-owner of Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, said: “Our vision is to create a retail and leisure destination that will appeal to customers from near and far. We’re attracting great brands, an appetising line-up of restaurants and cafés, and we will have an exciting events programme to ensure customers have a really memorable visit. With no other major outlet centres within a 60-minute drive and nearby towns generally providing a lower-priced fashion offer, we feel confident that we will add to the appeal and prosperity of the region.”
Opening in 2021, major enabling and infrastructure works have started on site.
Ken Gunn, Managing Director at Ken Gunn Consulting, said: “Located at junction 53 of the main A1(M) North/South motorway and the A66, Scotch Corner Designer Village will be one of the most accessible retail and leisure destinations in the UK. With an expected annual footfall of over 4.3 million and some 28.9 million vehicles passing the site each year, the development will be a destination for a family day-out and will create an opportunity for an enjoyable break in a road journey. The scheme has a wide catchment of some 3.8 million residents within a 60-minute drive-time with almost 60 per cent of customers classified in the top 3 most affluent ACORN categories.”
The site is at the gateway to surrounding areas such as The Yorkshire Dales and The North York Moors National Parks and with ease of access to The Lakes and Scotland. Some 96 million tourists visit the area annually. Indeed, Visit Britain research also shows the number of international visitors to Yorkshire, which is the second-largest tourist destination in the UK, has more than doubled since 2012, increasing high-spending, luxury tourism to the region. Passing traffic, day-trippers and tourist visitors are expected to account for around 40 per cent of annual revenue at Scotch Corner Designer Village.
With ambitions for a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating, sustainability and care for the environment are key elements of the design and operation of the scheme. Over 10 per cent of the car parking space will include electric vehicle charging points in phase 1 alongside the provision of new local bus services to create sustainable transport facilities. Approximately 300 new trees will be planted in phase 1, with over 1,000 more new trees planted in future phases. The scheme will create around 330 jobs during construction and over 1,000 once it is fully operational.
