Cannock designer outlet playground and art sculpture revealed
New images have been released giving a glimpse into Cannock's new £160 million designer outlet which is due to open this spring.
A bronze sculpture for the centre's plaza which has been created by a local artist and a children's playground have been revealed.
Award-winning artist Mark Richards took inspiration from the nearby Mill Green Nature Reserve when he created a bespoke piece of art for McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands.
Standing 2.65m high, the bronze sculpture depicts two geese taking flight in a reference to the neighbouring fields and lakes, and the surrounding wildlife it is home to.
Mark said: "The idyllic surrounds of the nature reserve offered the perfect inspiration for the piece and allowed me to reference the natural environment that provides such a spectacular backdrop for the centre.
"As my first ever sculpture for a shopping centre, I felt it was important to create something that captured the sense of grandeur of the location, while still being elegant and intimate enough for a retail environment."
As well as the nature reserve, Designer Outlet West Midlands is situated along the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail, which spans 10 miles and connects the centre with the history of its local area.
Where the trail meets the centre, a one-of-a-kind children’s playground has been built that gives young people the space to discover their local environment and experience nature.
Designed by landscape architects, Carve, the playground provides youngest guests with a range of activities to immerse themselves in.
Anchoring the new play space is a cluster of three climbing towers that feature a range of play activities, connecting bridges and two tube slides, while wooden balance beams and crawling tunnels enhance the sensory experience for children. Trampolines, a climbing wall and a slide for toddlers rounds off the mix of play features.
Centre manager Mike Thomas said: “We take huge pride in ensuring each and every one of our customers enjoys a memorable day out when visiting us, whether they’re shopping in our sought-after brands or playing in our adventure playground.
"By connecting with our iconic surrounds of the Mill Green Nature Reserve, we hope to enrich the experiences and wellbeing of all our guests through the power of nature."
The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands is bringing 1,000 new jobs to Cannock Chase, as well as more than 80 shops and restaurants.
Major retail brands coming to the centre include Adidas, Nike, Kurt Geiger, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Ted Baker, Hugo Boss and Joules, while chains including Five Guys, Wagamama and Starbucks are gearing up to refresh shoppers.
The centre was initially set to open in September 2020 but due to coronavirus it was pushed back to spring 2021.
