“Best High Street Retailer” of 2012* Phones 4u, is set to open at the new Victoria Shopping Park in Hednesford as part of St. Modwen’s £50 million transformation of the town centre.
The award-winning mobile retailer has signed up for a 1,517 sq ft unit on a ten year lease and will sit alongside fellow high street stores Costa Coffee, Pets Corner and Lloyds Pharmacy plus an 80,000 sq ft Tesco superstore.
The shopping park is under construction and will open in time for Christmas 2012 trading, generating more than 600 jobs. The development will also feature a 10,000 sq ft community facility to replace the former Aquarius Community Centre/Dance Hall, a 640 space car park and new bus stops.
Stephen Pearce, Director of Property and Retail Projects at Phones 4u said: ‘We’re delighted to be opening a new store at the Victoria Shopping Park and playing a role in the regeneration of Hednesford.
“We look forward to bringing Phones 4u’s fantastic retail and customer experience, mobile expertise and wide range of smartphones, tablets and accessories to the town as well as creating a number of new jobs for local people.”
Mark Watkins, development surveyor at St. Modwen, said: “With Phones 4u joining the line-up of high profile retailers, Victoria Shopping Park is on track to provide a thriving, high quality shopping experience.
“Talks are underway with other retailers interested in the remaining units and we expect to confirm names soon.”
Cheetham & Mortimer and Ramsdens are the joint letting agents acting on behalf of St. Modwen for the retail scheme. CBRE acted on behalf of Phones 4u.
Conor Mulloy, associate partner at Cheetham & Mortimer, commented: “We are pleased to have secured another established, household name to the scheme. It demonstrates Hednesford’s growing reputation as a retail destination, providing the town’s residents with a varied retail offering.”
Victoria Shopping Park is the final phase of St. Modwen’s 10 acre regeneration project at Hednesford town centre. The first phase, Chase Gateway, includes the redevelopment of the area fronting Market Street, Rugeley Road and Victoria Street and delivering purpose built buildings for the Hollywood Bingo Club plus new retail units. Last month Aldi revealed it was purchasing a 15,650 sq ft store at Chase Gateway which will open in late spring 2013 generating 25 full and part time jobs.
Cllr Diane Todd, Cannock Chase Council Town Centre Regeneration Leader, added: “The transformation of Hednesford is quickly taking shape, creating a new heart for the area as well as hundreds of jobs.”
Construction began on the comprehensive town centre scheme in April 2011 after developer St. Modwen was granted planning approval by Cannock Chase Council.
