Two new shops are the latest to join a rapidly expanding out-of-town shopping complex near Ipswich, bosses have announced.
Shoppers at Beardmore Park in Martlesham Heath will soon be able to visit Mountain Warehouse and Card Factory after the stores agreed new leases with developer LondonMetric.
Both retailers will be moving into a subdivision of the current Topps Tiles unit, the property group announced last night.
They are the latest in a string of shops added to the park in recent years, including Hobbycraft, Shoezone, Poundland and M&S.
The shops are to join Hobbycraft, Shoezone, Poundland and M&S at the park, though opening dates have not yet been confirmed for either store.
Head of brand at Mountain Warehouse, Jennie Bianco, said: “We are thrilled to confirm we will be opening up in the Martlesham Heath retail park.
“With the Suffolk coast and heaths right on our doorstop, Mountain Warehouse is the perfect one stop shop for locals and tourists who love to be outdoors.”
Development work has been under way at the site for some time – last year it was announced a Wickes store, drive-through Costa and two other units had been built off Anson Road.
In December, developers LondonMetric confirmed the two new units between Tesco and the new Wickes would be a Topps Tiles and Evans Cycle shop.
New stores have also been built in Martinsyde, off Beardmore Park, which this newspaper revealed in October would soon play host to a Home Bargains shop.
Planning documents submitted to Suffolk Coastal District Council by agents Quod last year confirmed that Home Bargains will occupy the first of these units, and it has since opened.
Hughes Electrical will fill the second new space.
However, mystery continues to surround what will happen to the existing Hughes store opposite Next.
Council planners approved a variation of condition application in July 2017 – which means that the current Hughes unit may be split into two stores.
It is understood Boots has expressed an interest in one of the units – particularly if it is subdivided.
When asked about the progress, representatives for Indigo Planning – who put in the variation of condition application – did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.
LondonMetric moved to allay motorists’ fears of traffic chaos after chiefs announced the drive-through Costa would be joining the site.
Asset manager Simon Meacock said: “Costa are in the Next store at the moment so we are working on the basis it is linked.
“It shouldn’t create any additional demand but the Costa there is oversubscribed already.”
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