Greggs and Bewiched given rent-free deals to move onto Peterborough's Fletton Quays development

Bakery chain Greggs and city coffee shop Bewiched are moving onto the new landmark Fletton Quays development, with both businesses being granted an initial rent free period on the site.
Construction at Fletton Quays EMN-180517-220624009Construction at Fletton Quays EMN-180517-220624009
Construction at Fletton Quays EMN-180517-220624009

Bakery chain Greggs and city coffee shop Bewiched are moving onto the new landmark Fletton Quays development, with both businesses being granted an initial rent free period on the site.

The outlets are expected to move onto the £120 million South Bank development in the coming weeks should planning permission be granted by Peterborough City Council.

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Greggs has been offered a year’s free rent by the council, with Bewiched being offered a two-year deal.

Council cabinet member for resources Cllr David Seaton said the agreement made sense for the authority as the development is still a long way off being completed, with 358 new apartments, a Hilton hotel, a whisky and gin distillery and an arts centre all still to be built.

However, the council recently moved its staff from the Town Hall and Bayard Place into its new Sand Martin House offices on the site.

Cllr Seaton said: “Given the current state of the development on Fletton Quays I believe that actions the council has taken are reasonable at this time.

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“I’m delighted that a local business like Bewiched has agreed to take one of the stores.”

Current Greggs and Bewiched outlets in Bridge Street will remain open, the council confirmed.

Asked how the rent free deal was arranged, a spokesman for the authority said it had contacted local businesses to see if they were interested in moving onto Fletton Quays, with both Greggs and Bewiched responding positively. Terms were then discussed with both companies.

Bewiched managing director Matt Fountain said: “Having traded in Peterborough for over four years on Bridge Street the team have worked really hard to deliver something better, and despite the challenges of opening next to two national brands we have won over and continue to strive to retain a loyal customer base.

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“As a result when we heard about the Fletton Quays project we were very keen to make Peterborough the second populous to benefit from two Bewiched Coffees. We love Peterborough and, actually, I always say to people that aesthetically it is the nicest city centre that we operate in.

“The Fletton Quays project is in line with our brand values and will offer a very high quality space to consume a beverage in. The city council have restored the building to a very high standard and we will be leaving as many original features exposed as possible.

“We hope to begin trading in November and would strongly recommend that people take a look at what is going on in that part of the city centre.”

When finished Fletton Quays will also include what has been described by developers Western Homes as an urban beach (an artificial public beachfront created in an urban setting) and linear (long length) park for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The development is being carried out by the Peterborough Investment Partnership (PIP) - a joint venture between Peterborough City Council and the Lucent Strategic Land Fund.