Three major companies set for Howard Group Interchange Park Phase 2
M&S Simply Foods, Motorvogue and Costa Coffee have signed up for the second phase of the Howard Group’s Interchange Park scheme in Bedford.
HPG Developments acquired the prime 10 acre development site, close to the Interchange Retail Park, Progress Park and the new A421 dual carriageway between the A1 and the M1.
Phase 1 construction of the new B&Q Warehouse store with garden centre and builders’ merchant is nearing completion on the Park. B&Q are to commence trading there on 1st November this year.
The proposed M&S Simply Food has a floor area of 16,000 sq ft and 80 customer car parking spaces. M&S will take on a 15 year lease and this will be the first M&S unit on any of the Howard Group retail parks.
Car dealership Motorvogue is set to build a new showroom of 11,000 sq ft. There is also a separate workshop of approximately 6,000 sq ft and an external display area for approximately 120 cars. Once completed Motorvogue will enter into a new 20 year lease.
Costa Coffee has agreed to lease a Drive Thru unit of 1,851 sq ft plus external seating area and car parking. Costa will sign a new 15 year lease on the building.
This will be the second Costa drive thru on Howard Group retail parks in Bedford, last year one of the first such units in the country was granted planning consent at the Group’s St John’s Retail Park on Rope Walk.
William Jewson, Development Director at the Howard Group and managing the project, commented; “We are delighted that further national and regional businesses have identified Bedford as a location where they wish to expand and invest in new buildings and jobs, this is great news for the town. Now that planning is approved we hope to be on site on the second phase later this year”.