Laura Ashley and Body Shop join line up at Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough

Laura Ashley and Body Shop join line up at Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough

13 June 2007

Retail, leisure and commercial complex Marshall's Yard in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, has secured a further two leading retailers to add to its tenant line up.

International lifestyle retailing group Laura Ashley has taken a 5,000 sq ft unit on a 15 year lease. The store will showcase the company's full product lines in fashion, home accessories, home decorating supplies and furniture.

The company recently posted its best results for ten years and with a UK wide expansion programme underway,  the Marshall's Yard store reflects the company's new drive to expand its distribution channels.

It also marks a trend amongst retailers to move into market towns - independent analysts CACI have identified that market towns , with their large and affluent catchment areas, have the potential to outperform traditional shopping destinations.

Global cosmetics retailer Body Shop International plc has taken a 1,357 sq ft unit on a 15 year lease.  The ethical retailer is going from strength to strength since its take over by beauty giant L'Oreal, and is rolling out new stores across the UK.

At Marshall's Yard, Laura Ashley will be located between Marks & Spencer Simply Food and Halfords.  Body Shop will be housed in premises between Julian Graves and Holland and Barrett.  Other tenants on the development include Next, New Look, JJB retail and leisure, Costa Coffee and Wilkinson..

A joint venture between Dransfield Properties and Prospect Estates, the £39 million Marshall's Yard mixed use development opened in April this year and is attracting thousands of shoppers into Gainsborough every week.  The developers had to overcome the challenges of working in a conservation area with listed buildings, but the investment has paid off.  It  has kickstarted unprecedented levels of public and private investment in Gainsborough, a market town which suffered severe economic decline in the 80s and 90s.

Marshall's Yard has been shortlisted for Property Week's Midland's Property Awards, and in The Insider Magazine's East Midlands Property Awards.

Mark Dransfield, Managining Director of Dransfield Properties, said:  "Until recently, Gainsborough was an under-performing town with a lack of a retail offer and dominated by charity and discount stores.  Retailers who signed up early had to take a leap of faith, and this has been rewarded by the staggering increase in visitors to the town from residents of surrounding areas.

"The challenge of delivering a shopping park format which incorporated listed buildings allowed us to deliver a unique town centre development incorporating shopping, leisure and office space.

"The scheme is due to be fully open in September 2007 and there are only two 1400 square foot units left available to let.

"I am delighted that Laura Ashley and Body Shop have joined the impressive line-up and I am confident they will trade above expectations and their presence will bring a new dimension to the Marshall's Yard shopping experience."

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk