Retail park set for new look

Four new stores are ready to be let on a Stafford retail park which has just been bought by a major property group for £39 million.

The units – one of 10,000sq ft and three of 7,500sq ft – are on the former B & Q store site at Queens Retail Park, Queensville.

They form part of a new complex which also includes the new Next superstore of 11,500sq ft which is to open in August.

Queens Retail Park has been bought from Capital and Counties by FTSE 100 company British Land and it is being operated by Hercules Unit Trust, a joint venture with The Crown Estate.

Asset manager John Maddison said they were close to signing a deal with a retailer to take one of the four new units, but no names of prospective tenants have been revealed. Their agents Savills and Wilkinson Williams are handling the leasing of them and the vacant former Powerhouse superstore on the retail park.

Mr Maddison said it was hoped to complete the letting of the new unit between now and Christmas and it was also hoped to announce something on letting the Powerhouse unit before Christmas as well.

"We also have long term intentions to improve the site and make further investment in the retail park.

"Parts of the park are dated and a little bit unloved.

"Hercules by its nature will invest and asset manage quite heavily," he explained.

Mr Maddison said the investment would be good for the local area.

The redevelopment of the B & Q site was done under the ownership of Capital and Counties and the construction work was completed last month.

Next has just begun recruiting new staff including full and part time sales consultants and storeroom assistants.

About 80 jobs are expected to be created by the store, which will have a mezzanine floor and womenswear, menswear, 1childrenswear and homeware sections.

B&Q has now opened a new base at the Hough Retail Park.

* Queens Retail Park also includes Stafford Sport Arenas, Matalan, Dunelm, Instores, Carpetright, Pets at Home and Gala Bingo.