The retail sector in the UK employs over 3 million people, equating to 1 in 10 of the total workforce, and in 2006 made total sales of £240 billion. WSP offers specific advice and expertise across the full spectrum of the retail sector and is the market leader both in terms of shopping centre and individual store design.
Core services
Our skills and considerable market experience enables us to bring true value to schemes throughout the UK and in the global market place including award-winning schemes in the US, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa, in turn bringing global experience to UK projects and visa versa. Our track record covers the full project life cycle from Acquisition and preliminary concept and master planning, feasibility appraisals, expert witness representation through to design, implementation and aftercare.
We act for Funds, Developers, Contractors, Agents and Regulatory bodies providing bespoke teams that understand the clients’ requirements and objectives.
We endeavour to deliver best value and sustainable economic retail schemes for our clients. We are at the forefront of innovative design as demonstrated through our involvement with the British Council of Shopping Centres in developing best practice policy guidance for Retail Development in the UK.
We provide a range of Property, Environmental, Buildings and Development & Transportation services activities including Civil and Structural Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Fire Engineering,, Development Planning, Transportation, Infrastructure, Acoustics, Vertical Transportation, Environmental, Energy Advice and Sustainability.
Specialist skills
Utilising the skills that exist across the diverse WSP business, we are also able to offer a range of additional skills and services. Drawing from our experience in traffic and roads we can offer advice on car park layout and operation, integrated transport strategies, pedestrian movements, and highway junction capacity improvements.
Our Environmental advice extends to Environmental management systems, environmental planning, and strategic environmental assessment as well as asbestos and hazardous materials assessment, waste management, and environmental impact assessment and planning support. We are also able to assist with Corporate Social Responsibility.
Due Diligence and Transactional services, formation and leading of supply chains, thermal modelling of building interiors (increasingly required very early in the design process), access strategies, service strategies and expert witness services are some of the additional services that WSP is able to offer to the retail sector.
Clients
Our clients include the major shopping centre developers and constructors as well as some major retailers. WSP has extensive experience gained from involvement in 70% of the major shopping centre developments in the UK, including:
- White City, London
- Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow
- Silverburn Centre, Glasgow
- Paradise Street, Liverpool
- The Bullring, Birmingham
- Highcross Quarter, Leicester
- New Retail Quarter, Sheffield
- Westgate, Oxford