Scarborough International Properties Limited (SIPL), the UK and international real estate developer and its joint venture partner Legal & General, have unveiled a new brand identity for their 350,000 sq ft retail and leisure destination at Thorpe Park Leeds, which is due to open in October 2018.
The 350,000 sq ft development will be known as ‘The Springs’, an identity that was inspired by the freshwater springs that once flowed from the site, which is located just off Junction 46 of the M1 east of Leeds. Created by brand consultancy Core Marketing, the new brand is designed to complement the existing Thorpe Park Leeds identity, inspiring a more consumer facing, placemaker feel to help engage a wider audience and promote the leisure and retail proposition.
River Island is the latest national retailer to agree a lease at the site, taking a 6,500 sq ft unit, and will join other confirmed brands including Next, TK Maxx, Outfit, Boots, Odeon and Pure Gym. Further high street leisure and retail occupiers are due to be announced over the summer.
Simon Marshall, Joint Chief Executive of Scarborough International Properties, said: “We are really starting to see momentum build for the retail and leisure offer at Thorpe Park Leeds. The process of handing over to occupiers for fit out in advance of the grand opening in October is now in full flow.
“As a business destination, Thorpe Park Leeds has enjoyed tremendous success with over 60 blue chip occupiers employing over 4500 people already on site. The launch of a new retail and leisure destination at the heart of the development, as a major part of a £162 million phase two investment, is a real game changer for East Leeds. Now that we’ve announced the new brand identity, we have reached yet another important milestone in the development of a more upbeat, fresh and engaging development that will appeal to a broader consumer audience.”
Rachel Dickie, Head of Urban Regeneration at Legal & General Capital, said: “Thorpe Park Leeds is establishing itself as a true destination where people can, live, work and play. This milestone of a new retail and leisure offer further brings to life this unique and progressive mixed-use community that we have created in partnership with Scarborough International Properties, and the on-going support of the Council, and will contribute hugely to the economic prosperity of the local area, creating new homes, jobs and amenities.”
Thorpe Park Leeds is an established business location with 800,000 sq ft of development built and occupied to date, including 600,000 sq ft of offices. A unique £162 million investment deal with Legal & General Capital in 2015 secured a transformational 1.35 million sq ft mixed-use expansion, bringing forward exceptional new business opportunities to the Leeds City Region.
Phase two includes the 350,000 sq ft retail and leisure park as well as a further 900,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, 300 new residential homes by Redrow and a 113-acre public park with sports facilities.
Phase two also includes delivery of the first section of the ‘East Leeds Orbital Road’, a key piece of infrastructure connecting north and east Leeds to Junction 46 of the M1. This road will unlock land for the construction of up to 7,000 new homes in the East Leeds area, land that is either already allocated in the Local Plan or which is ‘brownfield’ land.
The award-winning development has dedicated access to Junction 46 of the M1 and has been chosen for the new railway station, ‘East Leeds Parkway’ and associated Park and Ride, connecting Thorpe Park Leeds directly to Leeds city centre in eight minutes. This forms part of a £270 million infrastructure investment into Leeds by the Department of Transport.