Whittam Cox Architects are seeing their hard work reach fruition as construction of a multi-million pound retail park begins a few miles from their headquarters.
They were chosen by St James Securities on the back of their retail expertise and commercial awareness to help develop St James Retail Park serving southern Sheffield.
The eight-acre site of the former Norton College is being redeveloped to create 130,000 sq.ft. of prime edge-of-town retail space for national retail chains including Aldi, Marks and Spencer, TK Maxx and Next.
Construction is beginning with a view to the first retail units opening for trade by Spring 2018.
Andrew Dabbs, Design Director at Whittam Cox Architects, formerly WCEC Architects, said: “Having developed this scheme from its original concept, we are delighted to see this exciting project break ground.
“The entire project team have worked incredibly hard to ensure the quality that was set out in the original vision has been maintained in the detailed design and we will ensure this focus continues throughout the delivery stages.”
St James Retail Park will extend to 9,170 sq.m. on the ground floor with a further 3,716 sq.m. available at first floor mezzanine. Four smaller pod units complement the larger retail units and all are arranged around a 420-space customer car park.
Some 250 full-time new and sustainable jobs are being created, plus 124 during the construction period.
Paul Morris, Development Director of St James Securities, said: “The design team demonstrated a sound understanding of our requirements for a high quality and sustainable development and our shared passion for creative design is driving this project forwards.
“Whittam Cox Architects are a motivated, proactive practice that have already excelled on this project achieving timely planning submission and support at public consultations to realise community engagement.”