One of the UK’s biggest car supermarket businesses is to open its sixth retail site, fronting the A38 in Filton, Bristol. CarShop, part of the Leicester-based Sytner Group, has started construction of a new £15 million state-of-the-art sales and service retail operation on 7.3 acres at Horizon38, a rapidly developing 60-acre business park which is one of the biggest mixed-use schemes of its kind in the UK.
Opening in September 2019, the site will be CarShop’s sixth location in the UK, sitting between its Cardiff and Swindon stores. The move into the area is expected to create up to 80 new jobs. Currently retailing over 30,000 vehicles annually, CarShop’s proposition will provide the car-buyers of Bristol and South Gloucestershire with a new way to shop for a used car, sell their old one and take advantage of competitive Service Centre rates all in one location.
Jonathan Dunkley, CEO of the Sytner Car Supermarket Division, comments:
“We’re delighted to have commenced our move into Bristol, one that we’re extremely excited about, and something the whole team has high expectations for. The vibrancy and popularity of the growing city and surrounds presents a great opportunity for us to strengthen our position in the South West and offer car-buyers more choice and convenience when it comes to buying, selling and servicing their car.
“We have an ambitious five-year plan to allow us to better cater for customers’ car-buying needs right across the UK. Not only does this include the physical expansion of our store network, it involves significant investment into our digital proposition, ensuring we can deliver for our customers regardless as to whether they shop online, in-store or on the go.”
Horizon38 is a development by MSF Filton Ltd, a joint venture between iSec and St Francis Group. Speaking about the announcement, Gareth Williams, director at St Francis Group, says:
“Having broken ground on this landmark mixed-use development in 2016 we have already made significant progress, both in terms of signing deals and some great buildings coming out of the ground.
“The deal with CarShop follows commitment by leading firms such as Selco Builders Warehouse, Village Urban Resorts and Ceva Logistics. CarShop choosing Horizon38 further serves to underline the potential, and attraction of the location, for a range of different uses and occupier requirements. This will be enhanced by the planned new access direct onto the A38.
“We also have Village Hotel and Leisure Club at Horizon 38 opening for business in December which will complement the employment uses at the scheme, and provide an excellent destination for the business community in the city.”
Paul Hobbs of GVA, joint agent with JLL at Horizon38 says, “With the development and completion of over 420,000 sq ft of brand new state-of-the-art logistics, trade counter, manufacturing and industrial space now immediately available, we have plugged an obvious gap in the market for buildings in a range of flexible sizes, all developed to a high specification.
“We are fielding a significant number of enquiries and expressions of interest in the newly available space, and expect to make further announcements shortly. Similar high-profile sites remain available fronting the A38, as the scheme takes shape.”
