After three years of construction work and a £40 million-pound investment by Rushmoor Borough Council, the Union Yard development in Aldershot town centre is ready for occupation.
Building work started on the major redevelopment project in 2021, with £6.2 million of external funding from Homes England and the Enterprise M3 LEP secured towards the construction costs. The construction work has been delivered by award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group.
The council recognised the completion of the work with a celebratory event at Union Yard on Monday 10 March. Councillors, staff, stakeholders and representatives from Hill joined together for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque officially marking the opening and also to take a tour of the site.
Union Yard offers 12 flexible commercial and retail units, 100 quality new homes and a new public square in the heart of the town centre, alongside purpose-built student accommodation for 128 students from the University for the Creative Arts who have been in residence since the start of the autumn term last year. It is also home to a new Makers' Yard offering creative space for small and independent businesses in eight purpose-built units for flexible hire.
Councillor Gareth Williams, Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, said: “Union Yard is an important step in the regeneration of Aldershot town centre. At the beginning of this ambitious project, the council’s aim was to create a high-quality development, respectful and relevant to Aldershot’s character in its design and bringing something vibrant and new to the heart of the town and I am pleased to say that we have achieved that. I look forward to building on this foundation with the community, businesses and developers to deliver a town centre that everyone is proud of.”
Councillor Julie Hall, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration at Rushmoor Borough Council, added: “It’s been fantastic to see the project take shape over the last three years, bringing with it numerous local employment opportunities and much needed new homes and regeneration. I’m looking forward to seeing more businesses move in and a thriving, bustling community develop.”
Greg Hill, Deputy Chief Executive at The Hill Group said: “The completion of Union Yard is an important milestone in the transformation of Aldershot town centre. We’re pleased to have been chosen as trusted partners by Rushmoor Borough Council to bring their vision to life delivering much-needed new shops for the high street, student accommodation, essential high-quality residential housing, as well as a box park for new local businesses to thrive and develop.”
As part of the opening event, Rushmoor Borough Council also announced details of the first commercial leases at Union Yard, with Cobra Coffee Limited, a franchisee of Starbucks set to be moving into 2 Union Yard.
Kitschy Bits Boutique will be the first business to move into the Makers’ Yard. A number of other units in the development are currently under offer and the council will be sharing further details on these soon.
The completed development includes many references to Aldershot’s rich history. The student accommodation has been named Polden Studios after Gale & Polden, the British printer and publisher that was based in Aldershot until 1981.
Burton House, a mix of 35 1-bed and 2-bed apartments, recognises the former Burton building located in Union Street prior to the development. The council was able to salvage and preserve the original foundation stones laid by Barbara Jessie Burton and Stanley Howard Burton in 1931 and they have been inset within the building’s brickwork on the corner of Union Street.
Seacole Place, a mix of 47 1-bed and 2-bed apartments is named after Mary Seacole, famous for her nursing work during the Crimean War. Sheldrake House, a mix of 18 1-bed and 2-bed affordable apartments is named after William Sheldrake, founder of the Aldershot Military Gazette in 1859.
Anyone who would like further information about the retail opportunities available at Union Yard should go to the Union Yard website.
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