First Phase of Refurbishing Outlet Village, Braintree Approved

22 Jan 2019

The first phase of refurbishing the Outlet Village, Braintree has been approved, this includes a new footpath linking to the nearby train station. It is hoped the improvements will attract more shoppers to the outlet and new retailers to the area. Landsec took over the shopping village in May 2017, becoming the leading owner-manager of outlet centres in the UK in the process, and its aim is to make Freeport one of the best outlet destinations in the UK.

Currently it is described as having “confusing access, inadequate parking, some insufficient design of the retail units and a dated character”. To make the Outlet Village more vibrant and inviting, it will receive an exciting new North Entrance as a contemporary barn-style facade. Further changes are to be made inside the shopping village to a number of the shop fronts, with units adopting either a ‘Modern Openings’ or ‘London Mews’ theme. The London Mews theme applies to the Middle Mall only. It aims to achieve a “warm, homely character” to not only enhance the shopping experience but to attract more upscale brands to the area. Shopfronts on the outer mall will have the Modern Openings theme.