Two major new stores are on course for completion in Coventry this September after a huge fire ripped through the original buildings a year ago.
Dunelm and Dreams, on the Orchard Retail Park – also known as the Airport Retail Park, were destroyed by a blaze last October.
Coventry construction firm Deeley Construction was awarded the contract by Metric Property to design and build the retail units in phases to allow the national chains to stage their internal fit-outs.
The buildings are now approaching completion and Martin Gallagher, managing director of Deeley Construction, said the project was set to be handed over on schedule.
He said: “We started work on the project in April and, because of the nature of the site, we have had to work within some constraints but still needed to deliver the new buildings by September.
“The site is live so we have had to take that into account when carrying out our work and also we have had to consider the structural stability of the neighbouring retail units too.
“So far, we are extremely pleased with the way the project has unfolded and we are looking forward to the opening of the stores later in the year.”
The new Dunelm is 2,195 sq m unit while the Dreams unit is 799 sq m. Around 50 construction staff have worked on the site over the course of the past five months.
Deeley Construction also carried out work on the PC World, Currys and Carpetright buildings which were also damaged by fire on the same site and they have now been formally handed over.
Gallagher added: “This has been a significant contract for Deeley Construction. There has been no shortage of coverage of the difficulties the industry has faced in the current climate but we have been extremely busy over recent months and that looks set to continue.
“We are still tendering for new work and are keeping our eyes peeled for other new contracts. The fact that we are delivering a high-profile projects such as this certainly adds to our already strong reputation of providing high levels of skill, expertise and customer service in everything we do.”
