MCS Group completes retail park at former gasworks in St Albans

Construction of three new retail units at a former gasworks site in Hertfordshire has reached practical completion, main contractor MCS Group has announced.

Consolidated Property Group (CPG) awarded the £9 million construction contract to MCS Group to deliver the units, at Griffiths Way, St Albans, for major retailers B&Q, Aldi and Costa Coffee.

The scheme, on land formerly owned by National Grid, includes units ranging in size on a prime retail site adjacent to Sainsbury’s, Matalan, Pets at Home and Bunnings.

Alan Shadbolt, group commercial director at Warwick-based MCS Group, said: “Working alongside CPG, our team has delivered a high quality retail park on a site that has been in serious need of redevelopment, bringing new jobs and welcome investment to St Albans.

“An excellent new retail destination, surrounded by well known stores and supermarkets, has been created and we’re sure it will prove to be extremely popular with local shoppers.”

Martin Ridgway, group managing director of CPG, said: “We are delighted to have worked with MCS, our funders LXi and our professional team in bringing this prime retail development to a successful conclusion.”

The B&Q unit is the largest at 46,000 sq ft, while the Aldi unit is 19,000 sq ft and Costa Coffee is 2,200 sq ft.

MCS Group is building a reputation as one of the leading construction contractors in the commercial and warehouse/distribution sectors. The company has also built and refurbished more than 300 car dealerships including Audi, BMW, McLaren and Jaguar Land Rover since its inception in 2003.