6 December 2011
Clifford Devlin’s Building Division recently ventured north to carry out a white-label refurbishment of a listed retail unit in Chester’s Town Centre. The works were part of a 4-month scheme, which is being project-managed Colliers International, to convert a former Curry’s Digital store in Foregate Street into a 9,000 square foot Waitrose convenience store.
The 16-week multi-disciplined project included strip-out back to shell, vertical extension and external repairs and redecoration ready for fit out. The soft-strip included demolition of the internal dividing block wall, removal of the suspended ceiling, redundant services, fixtures, fittings and floor/wall furnishings.
Stone ballast on the roof area and the existing roof plant were removed prior to the construction of a new base for roof plant, extension of the first floor amenity area, installation of new roof plant and relocation of existing electrical installation to facilitate the new lift enclosure. These works were carried out by others.
The Waitrose store opened in October 2011. The Supermarket has claimed it has created 70 new jobs in the area. Jon Arnold, head of convenience for Waitrose, said: “It is always sad to see vacant retail units. However this is a great opportunity to revitalise a vacant unit and deliver secure employment and make a positive, long-term contribution in encouraging footfall to other businesses in the area.”
Clifford Devlin’s Building & Special Works Division specialises in white-label retail unit refurbishment. The company has performed similar projects in recent years to prepare retail space for a number of clients including UBS Global Asset Management, Rreef, Canada Life, Cadogan Estates, Colliers CRE and Trident.
