Major high street retailer could open in Peterborough shopping park

The major retailer has set its sights on a new location in Cambridgeshire

Peterborough could welcome a new major high street retailer to the city. AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, has submitted an application to Peterborough City Council for the use of a unit at Brotherhood Shopping Park.

The retailer owns and operates health and beauty chain Superdrug. Planning documents indicate that a new internally illuminated fascia sign would display the chain Superdrug, if the plans are approved.

The plans seek permission for a new flex-faced light box at high level, an internally illuminated fascia sign above the door, LED light goalpost and DDA compliant window manifestations at unit B1. Brotherhood Shopping Park in Walton, Peterborough, houses several stores including Next, Mamas & Papas, TK Maxx, and Poundland.

The major retailer already operates stores in Serpentine Green Shopping Centre and Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough. Serpentine Green is located just a 10-minute drive from Brotherhood Shopping Park meanwhile, Queensgate Shopping Centre is about seven minutes away by car.

This planning application comes after the health and beauty chain revealed plans to open 30 new stores this year, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to the UK retail sector. The retailer said the expansion of its store footprint will create around 600 jobs across the UK.

The Croydon-based business, which was founded in 1964, currently runs more than 780 shops across the UK and Ireland. Superdrug previously said it will continue to invest particularly in “large-format destination stores and retail park locations”.