Morrison Developments and Mulberry Properties have beaten up to 40 rival developers to be appointed as the preferred developer for the £30m St James’ leisure and retail site in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
John Lewis partnership in the form of a John Lewis/Waitrose superstore, will anchor the edge-of-city-centre scheme. Morrison is also talking to potential operators including Warner Village, Bass, Whitbread, First Leisure, Allied Domecq, Scottish & Newcastle Breweries and Rank.
Cheltenham council has appointed the two developers to work alongside Waitrose which has secured outline planning permission for a 7,896 sq m (85,000 sq ft) superstore, a multiplex and licensed leisure outlets.
Morrison and Mulberry intend to put a 10 screen multiplex, a health club, bowling and possibly, a bingo hall on the 8.09ha (20 acre) site. Some 25 new houses will also be built.
The development partnership is working up a detailed design of the scheme with the local authority and its partners. Detailed designs for the Waitrose/John Lewis store will be revealed before the end of the year with a planning application expected in Spring 1998.
Letting agents on the Cheltenham scheme are Fletcher King, Donaldsons and DTZ Debenham Thorpe.
EGi News 07/10/97
