It‘s only been two weeks since John Lewis opened a flagship store in Britain‘s second largest city, and now the retail giant has announced plans to open a new branch in Cheltenham come 2017.
With a combined investment of over £30m from the John Lewis partnership, BlackRock and Cheltenham Borough Council, the proposal will see the Beechwood shopping centre in Cheltenham transformed into a department store.
Creating up to 250 jobs and offering over 115,000 sq ft of selling space across two floors, the shop will showcase fashion, home and consumer electronics concepts in a contemporary setting.
“Cheltenham has long been a sought-after location for us and we’re delighted to be able to expand our reach to customers across the region for the first time,” said Tim Harrison, Director of Store Development at John Lewis. “This new shop will provide more convenient access to our inspiring products and great service, and we‘re looking forward to becoming part of the local community.”
“This development improves Cheltenham as a shopping destination, increasing footfall within the town centre and encouraging other retailers to the area,” added John Benham, Vice President of Real Estate at Blackrock. “At the same time, this ensures the long term viability of the site, creating long-term returns for our investors by improving the building and securing a high quality brand as a tenant.”
