Cotswolds retail mixed use scheme opens its doors

Main contractor Bouygues handed over phase one of the new Cotswolds Designer Outfit to developer Robert Hitchins on the 16th July. The retail-focused mixed use development between Bristol and Birmingham is operated by Multi-Real.

The development has 136,000 sq ft of retail, food and beverage space. Many of the retail stores are now let to major brands. The site also offers restaurants, a garden centre and soft play area. A further 50,000 sq ft second phase will follow and be home to 90 stores.

The 250 acre mixed use site where the outlet has been constructed also includes 1500 new-build homes from Charles Church, Persimmon, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes.

Bouygues used the latest techniques to reduce the environmental impact of the development.

This included the use of Gaia AI technology to identify, monitor and reduce power consumption during the construction phase. This technology was used in site cabins, cutting both carbon emissions and electricity costs by 53%.

Architect Roberts Limbrick also used technology to assist the design process, making virtual reality (VR) visualisations for the client to view the scheme in 3D. It also allowed the team to track sunpaths and overshadowing, sight lines and build scale.