Developer Robert Hitchins Ltd and outlet operating company ROS Retail Outlet Shopping have unveiled plans for Designer Outlet Cotswolds to be built at junction 9 of the M5 motorway in Gloucestershire in the southwest of England. The 18,100-square-meter outlet village will be opened in two phases and will feature some 90 retail units, restaurants, and cafes. Construction is due to start on site in autumn 2020, with the first phase expected to open around the end of 2021. The designer village will benefit from a sizeable local catchment, millions of vehicles passing near the site each year, and high visitor numbers to one of Britain’s top tourism regions. Local shoppers who live in the area are expected to account for over half of total annual revenue, with passing traffic and tourism predicted to provide the remainder.
The scheme is part of a wider retail development that includes a new 7,600-square-meter garden center, along with an existing M&S supermarket, a Starbucks, and a BP gas station, which, combined, will provide additional attraction to the site. A planning application for 850 homes, a school, and a local center in the south has also been submitted and is awaiting determination.
Designer Outlet Cotswolds will feature brands across fashion, athleisure, footwear, and lifestyle at up to 70% off RRP throughout the year, along with quality restaurants and coffee shops. The scheme will be an easily accessible, aspirational premium outlet village, serving affluent towns and cities along the Bristol to Birmingham corridor, including Cheltenham, Worcester, Solihull, and Hereford.
ROS Currently Manages 10 Outlet Centers
The development is the first venture in the UK by ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, and it showcases the company’s confidence both in the British retail sector and, in particular, the growth potential of outlet shopping. The Vienna-headquartered company, one of the top five outlet operators in Europe, currently manages 10 outlet centers in Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Croatia, and Hungary. It specializes in developing, managing, and operating innovative shopping concepts, and its team brings together extensive management know-how from leading retail destination operators and real estate development companies.
Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping and Member of the ACROSS Advisory Board, said: “With our specialism in designer outlets across Europe and our in-depth knowledge of different markets, we see tremendous potential for the UK retail sector. This is especially true for outlet shopping, which has been bucking trends in the UK for several years, generating significant interest among top brands and customers in the concept. Founded in 2011, we are a young company, but we have a team that offers experience, expertise, and a track record that has been built up over many years.”
