28/07/10 - Kendal Riverside opens £100m K Village

K Village, The Lakes Outlet, opened today following completion of a £100 million redevelopment programme by Kendal Riverside Ltd. K Village is the only outlet shopping centre and only the second retail centre to open in the UK in 2010.  The unique state-of-the-art shopping and leisure complex situated in the heart of the UK’s second largest tourism market will create over 300 full-time and part-time jobs and aims to attract over 1.5 million visitors and up to 4,000 coaches annually.

The driving force behind Kendal Riverside Ltd is CUSP, Northern Ireland’s leading regeneration and development company whose chairman, Shamus Jennings CBE, was in Kendal today to perform the opening ceremony. 

Speaking at the opening Mr Jennings said, “Today’s event marks the culmination of more than six years planning, designing, consulting and building.  It has involved literally thousands of people from engineers to brick layers and from architects to archaeologists.  It has sought the advice and expertise of a whole spectrum of organisations including statutory bodies, special interest groups and political representatives.  Not least it has also benefited from the input and patience of our immediate neighbours and all the individual members of the public who took the time and interest to contribute to the evolution of this dynamic project.”

“On behalf of the whole team at Kendal Riverside Ltd I would like to thank all of those people whose invaluable participation has enabled us to turn our vision into today’s reality.  There is no doubt that the K Village scheme will be hugely beneficial to the whole community, not only in terms of providing additional retail, leisure and tourist facilities, but also with regard to job creation and as a focal point for positive regeneration in Kendal.  Just as the 160 year old legacy of K Shoes and Kendal is celebrated in our new Heritage Centre, so may today begin the first chapter in this unique site’s next century of growth and prosperity.”

K Village is a mixed-use development comprising over 80,000 sq ft of premium factory outlet space, restaurants and cafés, over 400 underground car parking spaces, tourist facilities, a Heritage Centre, 25,000 sq ft of offices and 90 luxury riverside apartments.

Over 80% let and anchored by a major Clarks store, K Village offers a range of well-known brand names all offering attractive discounts of up to 60% every day of the week.  The tenant line-up also includes Alexon, Double Two, Klass, Lakeland Leather, ProCook, Whittards of Chelsea, Pavers, Staccatos, All Wellan Good, The Works, Mountain Warehouse, Bedeck, Cotton Traders, Domo, Denby, Julian Graves and Cadbury.  Costa Coffee and Moes Grill are just two of the names leading the catering offer.

The Heritage Centre tells the story of the 160 years of shoe making in Kendal.  Researched by historian Audrey Salkeld with assistance from Mr J T Somervell , the Centre explores how life changed over the 160 years, both for the employees of ‘K’ Shoes and also charts the influence the factory had on the development of the wider community.

Located on the first floor of the development, the office element offers self-contained suites designed to a modern specification.  Available in suites from 1200 sq ft to a maximum of 10,000 sq ft, the accommodation will comprise quality own door offices.

The scheme will also provide 90 luxury riverside apartments in one, two or three bedroom configurations.  Phase one of the apartments is scheduled for completion in early autumn 2010.  Show offices and apartments are available for viewing by appointment.