A new outlet centre in a popular area of Gloucestershire will provide a unique, modern shopping experience.
Ashchurch, Gloucestershire provides an ideal site for a new shopping experience. It is adjacent to junction 9 on the M5, located in a popular area for tourists, and within 90 minutes of the site live over 10 million residents.
Having helped our client successfully achieve outline planning approval for the new designer outlet centre, we were tasked with taking the next steps towards bringing the scheme to life. The brief required us to create a unique shopping experience that would be a landmark for the area, whilst also considering the planning implications of the design and the lettable value of each unit within the scheme. The wider masterplan brief also included the design of the largest Dobbies garden centre in the South West.
Collaboration and consultation were key to the design process, and we held regular meetings with the client and extended design team. We created VR visualisations for the client so they could see the scheme in 3D from the earliest stages of the design. This allowed us to discuss design decisions such as sunpaths and overshadowing, sight lines and building scale from the very start of the project, ensuring that the client fully understood the concept and design intent at every stage.
The scheme aims to deliver a design that is both modern and familiar, establishing a fresh take on the established outlet vernacular.
The images created for the planning application have formed an integral part of the marketing strategy for the scheme, targeting several different target groups including retailers, investors, and the general public.
Cotswolds Designer Outlet aims to open in 2024 and will house fashion and lifestyle brands, restaurants, and premium facilities such as personal shopper services and a VIP lounge.
