Kier reaches near completion of retail development

Kier Property has practically completed the new Columbus Quarter retail development on the Walworth Business Park in Andover through a partnership with the Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) after construction began in October 2018.

Construction began once 97% of the 26,733sq ft development had been pre-let, with such lettings consisting of a Lidl supermarket, a Starbucks franchise drive-thru, and a Greggs, as well as an A1/A3/A5 unit which is currently under offer.

The Executive Director for Kier Property, Leigh Thomas stated: “Columbus Quarter specifically addresses the lack of retail offering catering to the businesses on the Walworth Business Park and the residents within the local vicinity. With the emerging residential developments underway on Picket Piece and Picket Twenty, we identified an exciting opportunity to provide local amenities on the gateway site into the Walworth Business Park.

“I’m pleased that our vision for this site has reached practical completion and the individual retailers have commenced their fit-out, with the official opening expected within the next couple of months. We are confident that the offering on Columbus Quarter will drive more businesses to consider the Walworth Business Park as a destination for their operations.”

Kier Property was chosen to be TVBC’s construction development partner and asset manager back in 2011 with the near completion of the Columbus Quarter marking it as the third project that Kier has undertaken in association with TVBC.

A further two pending industrial schemes have been allowed planning consent on the Walworth Business park with said projects reaching a combined area of 549,150sq ft, over 20 times the size of the Columbus Quarter.

Test Valley Borough Council’s finance portfolio holder, Councillor Maureen Flood added: “The Columbus Quarter will be fantastic for business park employees as well as residents of the growing Picket Piece and Picket Twenty neighbourhoods.

“I am incredibly proud of the council’s track record of working with Kier to deliver quality projects such as this and would like to thank all those involved in the scheme. We have a really strong and innovative business community in Andover, and I am pleased that we are able to create high quality units to meet their needs and attract new businesses to the area.”

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