Waitrose has confirmed plans to open its first new supermarket for seven years.
The new 30,000 sq ft site is set to open in Brabazon, a new town located just north of Bristol, in 2027.
The grocer has signed a “multi-million pound” agreement with developer YTL Developments to secure the site, which will be located 500 metres from a new train station, on the ground floor of a seven-storey office building.
It’s the first new supermarket Waitrose has confirmed since it kicked off its latest store investment plan last year and will be the first new full line shop Waitrose has opened since its store in Evesham in 2018.
“We are moving up a gear in store investment as we open in new locations and modernise our existing estate to bring the quality, service and value that customers love about Waitrose closer to more people,” said James Bailey, Waitrose managing director.
“Brabazon is one of the most exciting new city districts in the UK, driving the growth of one of the UK’s most vibrant and successful regional economies. Partnering with YTL Developments at Brabazon underlines our ambition and the opportunity we believe we have to grow our reach.”
Waitrose investing £1bn into its stores
Waitrose plans to invest £1bn into its stores by 2028 as part of its turnaround and modernisation plan. It’s focusing its efforts on convenience with as many as 100 new Little Waitrose stores planned, however, Bailey had previously said it hoped to open some new supermarkets as well. It will also upgrade 150 of its 329 supermarkets – around 20 of those this year.
It follows the opening of a new Little Waitrose in Southwick, West Sussex in March, one of only two locations publicly confirmed by the supermarket to open this year. The second is set to open in the St Andrew’s area of Bristol before the end of summer.
Waitrose also opened a new Little Waitrose in Hampton Hill in London last year, as well as two franchise stores at motorway service stations in Rotherham and Spaldwick.
The new Brabazon store will serve thousands of new homes and workplaces being built as part of the Brabazon development project to regenerate the former historic airfield, Filton Airfield. The store will create an estimated 150 jobs.
“The arrival of Waitrose in 2027 is not only great news for the thriving community of new residents at Brabazon,” said Seb Loyn, planning & development director at YTL Developments.
“It also shows that this new city district is now firmly established as one of the most attractive destinations for both homebuyers and commercial investment in the south west.
“In the past year, YTL Developments has announced a multi-billion pound investment package, seen work start on a new train station, and welcomed hundreds of new residents to the community.”
He continued: “Welcoming Waitrose – one of the best-loved retailers in the UK – to Brabazon as our first commercial partnership is a signal of our intent to create a new town for north Bristol that works for people and for businesses, now and for years to come.”
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