Huge boost for forgotten rundown UK town as it gets new £140m shopping village | UK | News
Work on the £140 million designer outlet shopping center on the A1 will start this year and be completed by 2028, the developer said. The new shopping centre, which is expected to feature 137 shops, cafes and entertainment venues, will bring more than 1,200 jobs to the nearby run-down and struggling town.
The complex was initially planned to open in 2021, but work is finally scheduled to begin this year. Giles Membrey, managing director Rioja HousesHe said the project had suffered “many setbacks” but would become “a tourist attraction in its own right” once completed. As well as the usual chain stores, there will also be facilities for local artisans and commercial pop-ups to help create a more city-centre feel. For this purpose, there will also be public green areas and squares where shoppers can relax and have fun.
Grantham Designer Outlet Village Developers say it will be the UK’s only premium outlet with a visible frontage and direct access from the UK’s 3rd busiest motorway (A1).
They said: “With the completion of construction of the new roundabout on the A1, south of Grantham, Grantham Designer Outlet Village is one of the few Outlets in the UK to have both visibility and direct access from a major motorway.
“At Grantham Designer Outlet Village, we are creating a state-of-the-art retail destination that will transform our visitors’ shopping and entertainment experiences.
“Inspired by the surrounding countryside, our buildings are designed as traditional forms with contemporary finishes and high-quality shop fronts. Our research tells us that 3.8 million visitors are expected to visit Grantham Designer Outlet Village.”
Last year, Grantham was described as a “dump dump” and “shanty town”, according to YouTube channel Turd Towns. Their video, titled The Worst Towns in Lincolnshire’s Flat World, features 7 Lincolnshire towns as some of the worst in the country, including Grantham, Gainsborough, Grimsby, Boston, Cleethorpes, Scunthorpe and Skegness.
The new shopping center will be just 3 miles from Grantham and is easily accessible from the A1 motorway. The designer shopping village is expected to attract visitors from Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Peterborough and Cambridge.
It will be a 50-minute drive from Leicester and a 65-minute drive from Cambridge, and 3.5 million customers are expected to visit each year.
The designer outlet village will feature free Wi-Fi, fast charging parking spots, active media boards, VIP suite, ATMs and store activity.
But not everyone is happy with the plans. Councilor Richard Davies, who represents Grantham West in the county council, criticized the delays and said he would prefer the facility be used to support local industrial companies rather than retailers.
Plans for the Grantham Designer Outlet Village were first approved by . South Kesteven District Council In 2017.
Davies said he was “facing a lot of delays” and added: “Our little corner wants business space, good quality hi-tech workshops – space for businesses to grow.”
But Mr Membrey said he was trying to “create something hugely beneficial not just for Grantham but also for Lincolnshire” with the development.
The site was “one of the most strategic locations in the UK for its location on the A1”.
“So we are looking at other hotels and services on the site, so in total about 1,200 to 1,300 jobs will be created,” he added.
