As consumer-facing commercial industries face increasing pressure from customers to diversify their leisure offering and tenant mix, site owners continue to engage in redevelopment projects meet demand. This is the tactic Tesco Pension Fund intends to utilise at its Jarman Park leisure destination in Hemel Hempstead, which is currently undergoing a major facelift but may also be in line for further improvements.
The Fund has this week submitted a planning application to Dacorum Borough Council for a new development on a space of brownfield land adjacent to the centre’s St Albans Road complex. Over the coming months, the council’s development control committee will assess the merits of the plans before a final decision is given in May of this year.
Under the plans Tesco Pension Fund will construct a drive through coffee pod and 1,505 square metre food retailing centre as a means of attracting consumers seeking leisure experience during their shopping trip. The development will also contain 8,800 square metres worth of non-food retailing space, capitalising upon the high number of retailers seeking to expand in the wake of an upturn in consumer confidence.
In its application, Tesco Pension Fund said; “The proposed scheme aims to deliver a successful, contemporary and sustainable development, to provide a further improved offer and image for Jarman Park.
“For many years the former Leisure World had suffered from poor management, this has recently been redeveloped to offer the leisure park destination – this proposed high quality retail development forms the final piece of the jigsaw, completing the regeneration of Jarman Park as a ‘one stop’ leisure and shopping destination.
“The development will provide new, high quality retail space, building upon the good design principles created by the recently redeveloped leisure park and delivering an attractive and desirable destination for the local Hemel Hempstead community and beyond.”
Tesco Pension Fund acquired the former Leisure World site from Capital and Regional at a point where the development had fallen into considerable disrepair. The centre is now in the midst of a regeneration programme which has seen national names including Nando’s, Subway and Chiquito take up space.
In terms of the leisure offering, the Empire cinema multiplex has remained operational throughout the redevelopment process, while a Planet Ice rink is set to open in the coming days. By the end of March, a new gym and a Hungry Horse pub and restaurant are also expected to be open to the public.
The planning application details a number of advantages for the local community, such as providing employment for local residents, bringing more retail choice into the area and boosting competition as a means of keeping spending in the area. It would also bring a long term derelict brownfield site into use, thus securing the existing leisure destination’s position and ushering in a new era of prosperity for Hemel Hempstead.
