Yahoo News Major retail complex at Scotch Corner announces opening date after repeated delays
The opening date of a huge out-of-town retail complex at Scotch Corner has been announced after repeated delays.
Scotch Corner Designer Village has revealed March 26, 2026, as the opening date for Phase 1a and the Blue Diamond home, lifestyle and garden centre, with Phase 1b opening soon after.
The retail and leisure destination had been scheduled to open in October 2023 but was pushed back to September 2024.
Promotional material says Scotch Corner Designer Village will be "the number one outlet and leisure destination in the whole of the north of England".
(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Adidas and Joules are among the brands already confirmed.
It will have electric vehicle charging points, a dog walking trail, food outlets and "integrated leisure creating an exciting mix of interactive, immersive, fun and educational experiences for the whole family".
Scotch Corner Designer Village will have 70 stores and will be integrated with the UK’s largest Blue Diamond home, lifestyle, and garden centre, the largest of its kind in the UK.
Sarah Hodkinson, Retail Director Scotch Corner Designer Village, said: “We are thrilled with the enthusiasm of both major retail brands and the local community.
"Dozens of high-profile brands have signed with us. This is a vote of confidence and a superb, good news story for the region and the whole of the north of England.”
New retailers will be announced soon.
The development enjoys a prime location at the the Scotch Corner junction of the A1(M) and A66 junction with traffic of 44 million people every year.
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According to developers the "beautiful design, exceptionally high standard of building quality and finish, the public spaces and landscaping, as well as first-class customer services and healthy green open spaces, will ensure that Scotch Corner Designer Village is truly world-class".
(Image: Press release)
(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
The site is expected to attract an annual footfall of 4 million visitors within the first year and will be the UK’s 6th largest outlet centre by expected sales density.
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Located on a wider 100-acre site, also owned by Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, the developer has ambitions for leisure facilities, a hotel, drive-thru food offer, petrol filling station and employment units. This will create a nationally important destination, offering a wholly different experience to other outlet centres in the North of England.
Developed by Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, the scheme is the creation of property developer Simon Waterfield and his long-standing colleague Peter Mullen, who founded the shirt-maker Thomas Pink and has made Hunter the successful brand it is today.
(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
Welcoming approval of the shopping centre in 2016, Richmond MP Rishi Sunak forecast it would “attract shoppers from across the North of England”.
