Plans for ‘much-awaited’ designer outlet take a step forward

A planning application for a car park to support the much-awaited Cotswolds Designer Outlet at Ashchurch has been submitted to Tewkesbury Borough Council by developer Robert Hitchins.

The proposed surface-level car park would provide 607 spaces on land owned by Robert Hitchins at Natton House, a 4.2 acre site located immediately south of the outlet.

Phase 1 of the outlet at Junction 9 of the M5 and alongside the A46 is due to open in spring 2025 and will provide an aspirational mix of brands across fashion, home and lifestyle products, sports goods, shoes and accessories as well as restaurants and cafes, creating an estimated 500 retail jobs.

Phase 2 will enable the outlet to increase the number of shops and leisure units to up to 90.

The original outline permission for the Cotswolds Designer Outlet site allows for a total 2,200 parking spaces.

The developer said the new planning application for parking at Natton House would serve as a viable alternative to the proposed multi-storey car park which is currently the subject of a separate Reserved Matters application.

Simon Tothill, property and development director for Robert Hitchins, said: “We are extremely excited to be delivering this destination Designer Outlet which will serve an extensive regional catchment area and provide hundreds of local jobs and inject significant investment into the area.

“Construction of Phase 1 is progressing well and we look forward to the opening of this landmark development in spring next year.
“In the meantime, there is still work to be done on bringing the Outlet to completion, and that includes finalising the car parking needed for its customers.

“We are aware that there are some concerns over our proposals to provide an on-site multi-storey car park and have taken this feedback on board and explored possible alternatives.

“Whilst the Reserved Matters application for the multi-storey car park continues to progress, we have put forward a new proposal to create a surface-level car park of 428 spaces with a single deck of 179 spaces over part of the site located to the south of the Outlet. The Natton House site offers easy access to the Outlet and in this location, car parking would be well buffered by additional landscaping and have limited visual impact on the surrounding area.”