Building work due to start on new outlet

WORK to bring a huge retail and lifestyle outlet centre to a major site off the M5 in Gloucestershire is due to start within days.

It’s all systems go for the Cotswold Designer Outlet at Ashchurch, near Tewkesbury.

More than 300 jobs will be created through the construction programme as developer Robert Hitchins appoints a major contractor, Bouygues UK.

Building work will start next month ahead of a spring 2025 opening.

The centre is likely to create up to 500 retail job opportunities for the area.

The outlet destination off junction nine of the motorway will introduce fashion, lifestyle, homewares, sport, outdoors and food and beverage brands.

It aims to form part of a unique “full day out” experience in this “gateway to the Cotswolds” location.

It has been pitched as Gloucestershire’s answer to Bicester Village in Oxfordshire and has been described as aiming to have 90 shops and around

2,100 parking spaces. Discounts are expected to be between 30% and 70%.

Robert Hitchens’ property and development director Simon Tothill said: “Cotswolds Designer Outlet has the potential to make a meaningful, lasting contribution to the region’s growth.

“The combination of a strong location, thoughtful design and a hugely positive response from many leading brands, has us highly optimistic for its future success.

“We’ve had long-term aspirations to bring an outlet destination to this site, given the unique opportunity of its strategic location between Bristol and Birmingham, and with historic Tewkesbury right on our doorstep.

“We’re proud to be working with an internationally recognised contractor, completing a first-rate team that we have assembled for this programme.

“We look forward to sharing more milestones with the community, as we announce new construction jobs, and the new fashion, lifestyle and F&B brands that we will be bringing to this incredible location.”

The site is easily reached by roads, including the M5, and Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Railway Station is within a five-minute walk from site, as well as a new shuttle bus service which will connect with Tewkesbury.

Cotswolds Designer Outlet is part of Robert Hitchins’ longterm vision for this 300-acre site and follows the opening last year of the flagship Dobbies Garden centre, with Waitrose Foodhall and cafe.