Gloucester Quays is 10 years old

Gloucester Quays, the popular designer outlet scheme operated by Lifestyle Outlets, which was transformed by Chapman Taylor, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The shopping destination opened to the public on 21 May 2009. In 2013, Chapman Taylor was approached by Lifestyle Outlets, following the completion of Gloucester Quays, to identify opportunities to improve value and increase footfall through a review of the existing outlet centre and its wider context.

Our transformation of Gloucester Quays was a catalyst for further investment in the scheme and surrounding area, dramatically increasing footfall for both the leisure and retail offer and the night-time economy. In its opening year, footfall was about 1.5 million, but it is now about 7 million visitors per year, while sales growth is at record levels.

Our masterplan vision included a new leisure quarter within the scheme, anchored by a new 10-screen cinema within an existing, vacant retail block. The existing ground floor units were reconfigured to create a vibrant street scene with new restaurants and bars, which create the desired ambience throughout the day and into the evening.

The scheme was technically challenging and required us to work within the constraints of an existing building set in a conservation area. Our response was to create a bespoke lightweight cinema solution that was housed behind the retained façade of the existing building, with a striking ground floor entrance.

The remaining ground floor units were reconfigured to suit the restaurant market and were quickly leased to a range of high street and independent brands. The design was developed in BIM from Stage 3, including complex 3D designs of the cinema auditoria, the means of escape, the ground floor restaurant servicing and the acoustic separation.

Congratulations to Lifestyle Outlets and to everyone at Gloucester Quays on reaching this milestone – we look forward to another 10 years of success!

Congratulations to Lifestyle Outlets and to everyone at Gloucester Quays on reaching this milestone – we look forward to another 10 years of success!