Work begins on John Lewis Chelmsford as part of the Bond Street retail development
Work has started on the new Bond Street retail development in Chelmsford which will include a John Lewis flexible format department store.
Set to open autumn 2016, John Lewis Chelmsford will anchor the second phase of the Bond Street development in Chelmsford’s city centre. The Aquila owned scheme will include 20 retail units, river fronted restaurants and a cinema.
The new store will create 350 new jobs and will offer the full John Lewis product assortment including fashion, beauty, electronics, home and nursery.
The beginning of the work was marked by a special groundbreaking ceremony which was attended by the Chairman of Essex County Council, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford City Council, Aquila founder Tony Chambers, and key stakeholders from the local community.
Tim Harrison, director of store development at John Lewis, said: “It’s fantastic to see work start on the Bond Street development in Chelmsford and what better way to mark the occasion than by bringing key stakeholders from the local community together. We’re excited at the prospect of opening a flexible format department store here, allowing us to create around 350 new jobs in the local area and providing John Lewis customers with greater convenience and ease of access to a broad range of products.”
The shop’s selling space will total 90,000 square feet split over three floors and will include a customer café. John Lewis Chelmsford will be the third flexible department store to be opened by the retailer following Exeter which opened in 2012 and York which launched last year.
