Quintain has added to its team in order to take its vision for retail and leisure at the multi-billion pound transformation of Wembley Park to the next level, through the appointment of a new leasing agent, CF Commercial. The award-winning developer has tasked CF Commercial and existing agent Nash Bond with helping to attract further innovative concepts to join its growing collection of independent and big-name brands.
During the pandemic, the emphasis on community-living has soared as people were discouraged from moving outside their neighbourhoods. This echoes Quintain’s vision for a 15-minute neighbourhood across its 85 acres with a full range of amenities, appealing places for work, including remote working, plus great places to eat, drink, shop and play on its residents’ doorsteps. Since the start of the pandemic, Wembley Park has welcomed the likes of Fuller’s newest pub The White Horse, which features spaces to work, and desserts brand Haute Dolci, as well as some of fashion’s top names in London Designer Outlet, the capital’s leading lifestyle and fashion outlet centre.
The transformation of Wembley Park by Quintain is one of the largest and most all-embracing urban developments currently underway in Europe. The mixed-use project, surrounding the world-famous national stadium, will feature over 500,000 sq ft of retail and leisure, including some 240,000 sq ft of new build, and will be home to 20,000 full-time residents by 2027. The destination features a spectrum of big-name brands at London Designer Outlet to independent shops and restaurants, spaces for start-ups and artists’ studios and imaginative use of social spaces. An independent mix of retail, all within a walkable masterplan, was at the core of the retail plans when launched across Wembley Park in 2018 and has taken on a heightened sense of importance since the start of the pandemic.
Specialising in creating urban neighbourhoods and districts, CF Commercial has worked to shape some of London and the UK’s most recognisable areas. The leading commercial property agency and advisory consultancy specialises in retail, leisure, office, industrial and maker spaces, with some of its projects including Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Elephant & Castle and Broadgate Quarter.
Craig Fisher, Managing Director of CF Commercial, said: “Working to bring existing and emerging innovative retail and leisure concepts to Wembley Park, a new neighbourhood that is steeped in history and brimming with potential, is massively exciting. As one of the most ambitious urban transformation projects in Europe, there are incredible opportunities for brands to create long lasting legacies in this iconic destination. We can’t wait to get stuck into creating a world-class place for people to enjoy, both during the safety-conscious period of the pandemic and in a world with new expectations afterwards.”
CF Commercial is the second major retail leasing appointment by Wembley Park since the start of the pandemic, with Richard Poyser having joined Quintain as Head of Retail Leasing & Asset Management in May 2020. Poyser is responsible for overseeing and working alongside CF Commercial and Nash Bond, which was appointed in 2018, to attract an imaginative spectrum of exciting and innovative major and independent brands.
David Bannister, Executive Director of Nash Bond, said: “With a projected annual retail spend that will put it ahead of London districts such as Camden, Victoria and Ealing Broadway, Wembley Park offers strong opportunities for retailers, restaurateurs and leisure operators. Having been part of the Wembley Park team for a number of years, bringing the likes of the much-loved Bread Ahead and Fuller’s newest pub The White Horse to the neighbourhood, we look forward to continuing to shape one of London’s most exciting destinations.”
Richard Poyser, Head of Retail Leasing & Asset Management for Quintain, said: “The pandemic has emphasised how important our individual and collective spaces are. The places where we lay our heads at night, buy our groceries, greet our neighbours (from two metres away) and shelter from storms both real and figurative. Just as the pandemic reminded us of how important it is that we meet our basic needs, after the storm we’ll remember how great places can enrich our lives.
“That’s what Wembley Park is all about: when Quintain launched its vision for Wembley Park in 2018, it was to create both a neighbourhood and a destination. Somewhere to spend all day, whether you lived here or were just visiting. CF Commercial, Nash Bond and the entire team have the challenge of not just continuing to deliver that vision but to take it to the next level. Since 2018, we’ve welcomed London’s largest Boxpark, seen some of fashion’s biggest names open their doors at London Designer Outlet, created a place for entrepreneurial merchants and makers at Wembley Park Market and ate, drank, played, and so much more with brands from Black Sheep Coffee to bike shop and cycling community Twenty3c. We can’t wait for what’s next and to continue our work to deliver a world-class destination that, at its core, offers a unique and unforgettable experience, each and every time our visitors come here.”
Wembley Park is projected to benefit from a £328 million annual retail spend, putting it ahead of London districts such as Camden, Victoria and Ealing Broadway. Wembley Park has some 1.2 million people living within a 20-minute journey time.
