SGP delivers new fast food and trade units in Christchurch

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) has completed a new terrace of trade units, plus two restaurants with drive thru facilities, on Somerford Road in Christchurch, Dorset. The redevelopment of the brownfield site includes a terrace of nine industrial units totalling 27,413 sqft (2,465 sqm) with first-floor mezzanine, plus a fast-food restaurant and a coffee shop. The latter units, measuring 2,500 sqft and 2,200 sqft respectively, were pre-let and have been built to the tenants’ requirements.

Explains Nita Varia, Associate: “It’s satisfying to see the completion of this scheme which makes more efficient use of the brownfield site to deliver economic benefits and an increase in job opportunities. The flexibility and position of the site made it particularly suited to a strategic mix of high-quality storage or distribution space together with drive-thru facilities for passing traffic or customers and staff from the nearby Meteor Retail Park. We’ve worked with the Developer, Hamdon Gate Developments, for over 10 years and delivering the Christchurch project continues that successful relationship.”

A single storage unit, deemed to be at the end of its economic life, was demolished and the layout of the 1.03 ha site reconfigured to meet the end-users’ occupational requirements, particularly for the safe flow and movement of vehicles, people and those accessing the site by means other than by car.

The single-storey terraced unit has been designed to accommodate multiple end-users. The clear height for internal racking and storage has been set at 6.5m, with a resultant maximum ridge height of 8.5m above finished floor level. Externally, the design is simple and orderly with flat, ribbed and profiled cladding, exposed gables and office windows that give a vertical emphasis. The office is treated using a darker grey colour and a step in the cladding to define the first storey and give a focal point for visitors and staff. Overall, the terrace uses a colour palette of light to anthracite grey with yellow highlights.

Concludes James Nicholls, Managing Partner: “This redevelopment reflects the significant demand from drive-thru operators and smaller trade, retail and storage occupiers in the local market, as well as nationally. It demonstrates SGP’s capability to deliver these types of units on retail parks of this scale, as well as beneficial regeneration.”

The development has achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’.