Marriots Close
From Witney Website - Maintained by the people of Witney
The Marriots Close development will bring shops, leisure facilities, accommodation and a multi-storey car park to Witney. This page will keep you up-to-date with news of the Marriots Close development.
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[edit] Marriotts opening date
6th August 2009
The new retail, cinema and leisure complex in Witney opens for business on 29 October 2009. This will give the District a boost in terms of employment opportunities and attracting more shoppers and visitors. Like all Council-owned car parks in West Oxfordshire, the multi-storey at Marriotts Walk will be free. The Council believes this helps support the local economy.
[edit] Debenhams Store Boss Has Local Connection
30th July 2009
Work is underway on a new 14,400 sq.ft. ‘Desire by Debenhams’ store at Witney’s Marriott’s Close development. The store is due to open on 29th October, creating 35 new jobs for Witney and West Oxfordshire locals.
Sandra Coulthard, who worked as a deputy store manager at Reading Debenhams for the past two years, takes the helm as store manager. She was store manager at Boots where she fast tracked its store management programme, going from part-time to store manager in seven years.
She comments: “I’ve got a soft spot for the town, as I remember it from when my parents used to live here, so when I heard we were planning to open a store, I jumped at the chance to head it up. It’s such an unspoilt part of the world with a traditional market town feel. I am hoping Debenhams will help to attract more shoppers into the area and enhance prosperity for everyone.”
Sandra, who is married with two sons, has already boosted Witney’s property market by purchasing an apartment on the Marriott’s Close development, which will be ready at the end of September. She says: “I couldn’t resist the opportunity to become a resident in the town and plan to fully immerse myself in community life.” She has also joined the Witney Local Business Forum.
Debenhams offers a strong mix of exclusive beauty brands and signature Designer at Debenhams fashion and accessories that will appeal to local shoppers, looking for something a little bit different. Womens’ and mens’ fashions will include from J.Jasper Conran, Betty Jackson.Black, Rocha John Rocha, Star by Julien Macdonald and Jeff Banks, whilst the beauty department will comprise International makeup brand, Bare Minerals, as well as Benefit, Clarins and Clinique.
The store is currently recruiting for full, part and temporary Christmas positions and is hosting an open day on 15th August at Witney Job Centre from 10am to 4pm. Vacancies include supervisors, sales assistants and sales advisers. Anyone interested in enquiring about a position can drop in on the day.
Trading hours for the store and development are yet to be confirmed.
Desire is a small format store which stocks womenswear, lingerie, women’s accessories, beauty and childrenswear. The new Witney store will also stock a small range of menswear for the first time. Desire stores are typically around 15,000 sq ft compared to an average of about 75,000 sq ft for a department store.
[edit] Work begins on £45m Witney development
1st February 2008
A sod-cutting ceremony will mark the start of work on site at the Marriotts Close development, Witney.
Cllr Roger Curry, Chairman of the Council, senior District councillors and the Mayor of Witney, will join Director of Simons Developments, Luke Pickering, for the ceremony on Tuesday 5 February at 10am. Amanda Hill, of funding partner Kandahar, will also attend.
The development will provide an M&S store, Debenhams Desire, New Look, Monsoon, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins and a 5-screen Cineworld cinema, as well as new homes. The scheme is due to open in Autumn 2009 and will provide a significant number of new jobs in the area.
Luke Pickering said: “It is really exciting to be on site developing what we are sure will be a great addition to Witney, and this has only been achieved through a relationship-based approach.”
Cllr Barry Norton, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council added: “This new development will really help to consolidate Witney’s place as a shopping destination and together with a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, additional car parking provision and recreational space will be a great asset to both the town’s and the wider district’s economy. We will be working hard over the next 18 months to ensure that the whole town and surrounding area reaps the benefits generated by the new complex.”
Marriotts Close will be the first of Simons’ sites to use an Enviro-Cabin, developed collaboratively by Simons and its preferred suppliers. The eco-friendly site accommodation is capable of cutting CO2 emissions by up to 50 per cent, and is expected to save over 45 tonnes in emissions over the 80-week development period at Witney.
[edit] Major new store for Witney
4th September 2007
Marks & Spencer has signed a deal to become the next major anchor store coming to the Marriotts Close development in Witney following Debenhams who signed up earlier in the year.
M&S will take a 32,000 sq ft store in the centre of the new leisure, retail and residential development. The store will be split over two floors, stocking both food and clothing.
Cllr Barry Norton, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council welcomed the announcement. He said, “A key objective of the Council in promoting the development of Marriotts Close was to strengthen and broaden the appeal of Witney as a shopping and visitor destination. Confirmation that M&S are coming to Witney is great news for the town and for residents of the District. Together with the Cinema, Restaurants and other retailers already announced this should help ensure the success of the scheme which will significantly enhance the range of facilities available within West Oxfordshire and bring more shoppers into Witney saving them travelling further afield.”
Luke Pickering, Director at Simons, who agreed the deal said: “We are delighted to have agreed the deal with M&S as a major shop in the scheme and it is great to see our plans developing. We expect that now M&S has joined Debenhams there will be an even greater demand for the remaining few units.”
The news follows the announcement in April this year that Debenhams had signed up to the £40m scheme. Also coming to Witney are Cineworld, one of the UK's foremost cinema operators, Frankie & Benny’s Italian restaurant, Café Rouge and Starbucks coffee shop.
The new complex will include: 14 retail units 5-screen cinema 3 restaurants/cafes Public open spaces and children’s play area Around 190 new homes Multi-storey car park.
Work will begin on constructing a temporary car park in the autumn this year with construction on the main site commencing in January 2008 with completion due by September 2009.
