The A1 Retail Park at Biggleswade, designed by RGP Architects, is now fully open and doing great trade. The client, LXB Retail Properties had the vision to assemble the site and this is another example of their famed skill in delivering successful regeneration projects.
Just off the southern Biggleswade exit of the A1, the parks occupies a site which formerly comprised a mixture of industrial units and Biggleswade Retail Park. The latter dictated that the implementation took a phased approach to allow existing retailers to continue trading while brand new shops were created for them to relocate into. Homebase, at the southern end of the park continued to trade in their existing unit throughout and required all the coordination skills of the main contractor, Ellmer Construction, to make this happen smoothly. On top of all this, two new roundabouts and a dual carriageway were constructed to provide easy access to the new park, which has already become a destination of choice.
The location and design provide an opportunity to entice new retailers onto the park, who hadn’t previously been represented in the area. Great excitement was generated in Biggleswade at the prospect of M&S and Next arriving and these two big hitters are complemented by TK Maxx, New Look, Outfit, Boots Wilko, H&M, Matalan, Laura Ashley, Halfords, Bensons, Pets at Home and River Island. At the time of writing just two of the smaller units remain and, given the huge success of the opening months, they are attracting great interest from operators who hadn’t viewed this area as a target.
Feedback from the retailers and customers is that they are delighted with the design; pedestrians were at the forefront of the approach and their ease of movement from car to shop was top priority. The retail frontage is formed by a colonnade, offering shelter and sense of place. A palette of high quality materials comprising timber, coated aluminium fins and stone panels combine to make this a great place to be – visitor numbers alone confirm this.
