Retail experts join the Unity team

A specialist retail property consultancy with offices in Leeds and Manchester has been appointed to secure occupiers for one of Yorkshire’s largest regeneration projects.

Waystone Hargreaves Land LLP has appointed Barker Proudlove as sole agent for the various retail opportunities within Unity Town, a 30-hectare zone which is set to include a new town centre and district retail facilities as part of the wider mixed-use Unity scheme.  Unity Town also benefits from outline planning permission for c.500 residential units as well as healthcare, retirement and education provision and a new transport hub adjacent the existing railway station.

Located at Junction 5 of the M18 in Hatfield, Doncaster, the 250-hectare scheme will also see the development of 3,100 new homes, a new marina, school, transport hub and a range of open spaces. Over the next 20 years the development is expected to inject over £900m into the local economy and create up to 7,000 jobs.

Established in 2010, Barker Proudlove provide leasing and strategic asset management advice on high street shops, shopping centres and retail / leisure park developments. The firm operates across the North and Midlands on behalf of a variety of UK property investment funds, property companies and private investors.

Commenting on the firm’s appointment, Mark Proudlove, director at Barker Proudlove said: “Given the location and scale of Unity as a new mixed-use development, we foresee a healthy level of demand from a range of retail occupiers. There is a large and well established existing catchment thanks to its close proximity to communities in Stainforth and Hatfield, and of course there will be added demand as a result of the new homes to be built across Unity.

“We are very pleased to be on board and look forward to working with the development team to help deliver a successful retail offering.”

Andrew Johnson, director at Waystone Hargreaves Land LLP added: “We selected Barker Proudlove from a shortlist of established firms. The enthusiasm for the project shown by Mark, together with his team’s considerable experience is what ultimately influenced our decision.

“We will be working closely with Barker Proudlove in the weeks ahead to refine the design and layout of Unity Town prior to commencing a marketing campaign with a view to securing occupiers on either a pre-let or freehold design and build basis.”

For further information on the retail opportunities at Unity, please contact Mark Proudlove or Phil Coombes of Barker Proudlove.