-
Corporate
- Customers
Legal & General (L&G) announces that Kent-based construction specialist, RG Group, has been confirmed as the main build contractor for the St James retail and leisure regeneration development in Dover town centre.
6 Apr 2017
The £53.25 million development forms part of Dover District Council’s wider regeneration for the town which will create jobs and drive economic and social growth. Funding the development on behalf of LGIM Real Assets’ Managed Fund, L&G is currently involved in over £3.25bn of strategically important regeneration schemes that are fast transforming and reshaping Britain’s landscape.
Work on the 157,000 sq ft scheme is already well underway with construction works progressing well for the Cineworld, the restaurant block, and the main retail block on Townwall Street. Construction of a 108-bed Travelodge hotel is also underway. Maidstone-based, Gallagher Group has been on site since December 2016 and will continue as a sub-contractor. RG Group took possession of the site as the main contractor on 3 April 2017.
Once developed, the scheme will provide Dover with a modern retail and leisure provision to support the town’s growing population. The retail element is to be anchored by major brands including Marks & Spencer and Next, whilst the leisure component includes a six-screen Cine-UK (Cineworld) Cinema, a 108-room Travelodge hotel and six restaurants.
The development is currently 80% pre-let and recent lettings at the scheme include Shoe Zone, Card Factory, Carphone Warehouse and Greggs.
Neil Crawford, Head of Retail and Leisure Development at LGIM Real Assets, said: “Already significantly pre-let, St James, Dover will provide a modern, fit for purpose and highly prominent retail and leisure destination for the town. We are continuing to see significant demand from retailers wanting to sign up to the scheme, and it is great to see works progressing, bringing to life the transformation of the town centre.”
Clive Lynton, Development Director at developers, Bond City, said: “We are delighted to be working with a Kent-based construction company. We were impressed with RG’s credentials in the retail sector and look forward to working with them to complete this exciting development for Dover.”
Trevor Puttick, Director at RG Group, said: “We look forward to working with both Bond City and Legal & General to deliver an excellent scheme for Dover.’’
Substantial progress has been made on site and practical completion of the development is scheduled for Q1 2018.
-Ends-
Olivia Bayliss
Head of Communications
Capital and LGIM Real Assets
LGIMRA is a division of Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), one of Europe’s largest
institutional asset managers and a major global investor. LGIM manages £1.29 trillion1 ($1.57tn) in
assets, working with a range of global clients, including pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, fund distributors and retail investors.
LGIM Real Assets has assets under management of £36 billion2 ($43.8bn) and is one of the largest
private markets investment managers in the UK. Investing in both debt and equity and across the
risk/return spectrum, LGIM Real Assets actively invests in and manages assets across commercial,
operational and residential property sectors, as well as infrastructure, real estate, corporate and
alternative debt.
Taking a long-term view in order to future proof our investments, LGIM Real Assets continues to lead the industry in ESG performance, considering all environmental, social and governance issues at asset level as well as portfolio level.
1LGIM internal data as at 30 June 2022. These figures include assets managed by LGIMA, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Data includes derivative positions.
2Source: LGIM Real Assets. AUM data as at 30 June 2022.
*at 13 Jan 2023
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
For professional clients only. Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income taken from it is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up, you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Views expressed are of LGIM as at 12 January 2023. The Information in this document (a) is for information purposes only and we are not soliciting any action based on it, and (b) is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities or pursue a particular investment strategy; and (c) is not investment, legal, regulatory or tax advice. Legal & General Investment Management Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 02091894. Registered Office: One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, No. 119272.