Hammerson has launched plans to double its retail park portfolio in the wake of last year’s Grantchester acquisition.
The quoted company has appointed two development surveyors this week and plans to recruit more staff to back up the expansion of its £300m retail park portfolio.
Homebase’s Michael Neal and Rob Hancox, formerly of MEPC/Westfield, have joined the company.
Hammerson has also moved Simon Travis from general retail work to the retail park development team, which is headed by David Atkins.
The division will remain under the control of managing director and head of retail John Bywater.
Bywater said: “The focus of the plan is to develop as much as possible, with a view to doubling the portfolio.”
Hammerson has submitted a planning application for 260,000 sq ft (24,000 sq m) of open A1 retail in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, and received a resolution to grant consent for an 80,000 sq ft (7,400 sq m) Homebase store on a site adjacent to its existing park in Thanet.
Hammerson has agreed terms to buy the site subject to the success of a public inquiry, which will begin next week.
It has also appointed Wilkinson Williams to advise on putting together a site on Newport Road, Cardiff.
Last week it bought a £5.9m warehouse let to Focus/MFI from CIN and gained consent for 115,000 sq ft (10,700 sq m) of bulky goods retail.
EGi News 28/01/03
