Euan Lindsay

Developer St. Modwen has demonstrated growing confidence in the North Staffordshire retail market having taken the decision to fully build out its Phoenix Park retail development in Longton.

St. Modwen has already secured occupiers McDonald’s, Pets@Home and Smyths Toys off-plan earlier this year.  Lettings have been agreed with McDonald’s for its 3,500 sq ft restaurant with Smyths Toys and Pets@Home taking 15,000 sq ft and 7,500 sq ft retail stores respectively. 

With 50 per cent of the new development pre let, St. Modwen is confident with on-going enquiry levels to build out the remainder of the scheme and of securing lettings on the final three retail units as build progresses.  Construction on the site began in August with construction of the retail units, which range from 5,100-12,100 sq ft having commenced this month.  The retail park is programmed for completion in March 2012.

 “Since the beginning of this year we have been monitoring retail interest very closely and are now confident that there is sufficient interest in Phoenix Park for us to build out this development,” commented Mike Herbert, regional director for St. Modwen.  “Bringing forward new commercial developments such as Phoenix Park, which sits on a site that has been empty for many years, will make a positive contribution to economic recovery on both a local and national scale.  With high profile brands already secured for this development we do not anticipate any difficulty in finding further occupiers to complete what will be an exciting new retail destination in the town.”

Alongside the remaining retail units further development opportunities are available at Phoenix Park.  St. Modwen is already in the final stages to secure a public house / restaurant on the second phase for which a planning application has already been submitted.  Two further acres remain available for immediate development, providing prominent road side commercial opportunities fronting the A50.