Summer opening date set for £35m shops development

AN OPENING date has been set for a £35m retail park in Sheffield.

St James Retail Park, on the former Norton College site, just off the Bochum Parkway, Meadowhead, will fully open over the weekend of July 7 and 8.

Paul Morris, development director at St James Securities, said contractors were nearing completion of the build before handing units to tenants.

He said: “The actual completion of the building work is probably going to be the second week in April but then all the tenants will go in and fit it out.

“In terms of our role as a developer, we have sold the retail park to NFU Mutual and they have set a grand opening date for July 7 and 8.”

The full list of retailers signed up for the new centre so far include Next, M&S Foodhall, Aldi, TK Maxx, Specsavers, HomeSense and outdoor store Mountain Warehouse.

St James Securities said the scheme would create 250 full-time jobs, in addition to the 124 jobs created during construction.

Mr Morris said some stores may open before the July 7 date – depending on when they have their internal fits completed.

The developer believes the retail park will complement other regeneration schemes, such as the £16m revamp of the nearby Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre and the new National Centre for Sport and Exercise.