GMI Construction Group has completed building works for the new £35 million St James Retail Park in Norton, South Sheffield.
Acting as main contractor GMI has officially handed over the site to St James Securities and NFU Mutual who have already pre-let 100% of the 146,000 sq ft scheme ahead of opening. Occupiers include Next, M&S Foodhall, Aldi, TK Maxx, Superdrug, Homesense, Wilko, Pets at Home, Mountain Warehouse, Shoezone, Card Factory, Specsavers, Greggs and Costa.
GMI Construction created 124 jobs on the scheme during the 56 weeks construction period. Works involved full demolition of the former Norton College building and new infrastructure works for more controlled access to the site. This included adjustments and widening of the existing Meadowhead roundabout and a new traffic light system at Bochum Parkway. GMI delivered 13 high specification units, with features including live ‘green’ walls and colour coded aluminium cladding, yard space and 420 car parking spaces.”
Andy Bruce, Managing Director of GMI Construction Group said, “We are delighted to complete this project working closely with St James Securities and delivery partners Whittam Cox Architects and Rex Procter & Partners. We completed the project exactly to schedule despite the challenges of working in a live environment, close to a main road, leisure centre and school, where pedestrian and traffic management were critical.”
St James Securities is now working with occupiers for fit out with an official opening planned in July. A further 250 full time jobs will be created when the park is in full operation
Dan Murray, Construction Director at St James Securities, said, “The project has been a huge success achieved through a lot of hard work by all the team who should all be very proud of what we have delivered here. We have raised the bar when it comes to out of town Retail Park design making the scheme stand out against other schemes up and down the country. The first class design together with the Park’s superb ring road location has made the development very attractive to tenants allowing us to fully let the scheme ahead of Practical Completion.”
Established in 1986, GMI Construction Group is a highly reputable building and construction services company offering expertise across all sectors including office, retail, leisure, industrial, residential, automotive, education and health. GMI Construction Group directly employs 80 people with 65 located at its Leeds headquarters and 15 at its new offices in Manchester.
GMI is also currently delivering the new 300,000 sq ft retail and leisure park at Thorpe Park Leeds for Scarborough International Property Group and the 137-bedroom Dakota Deluxe Hotel in Manchester for Evans Property Group.
