Willowburn Retail Park in Alnwick, North East England, offers a mix of big-name brands and charming independent retailers. Designed to create a modern and sustainable retail destination, the development aims to enhance the local shopping experience while complementing North Northumberland’s natural surroundings.
Projekt Architects, the firm behind the design, envisioned a retail park that not only meets the needs of both shoppers and businesses but also prioritises longevity, environmental responsibility, and high-quality design that will serve the community for years to come.
Timber was the ideal aesthetic choice, offering warmth and authenticity to a commercial retail park, however, with many wood species it would require frequent maintenance and replacement. Accoya provided the perfect solution, delivering the natural aesthetic of wood with exceptional durability, minimal upkeep and a 50 year warranty.
Building on the success of Phase One—which welcomed key tenants such as Marks & Spencer and Turnbull Butchers—Phase Two is now complete. This stage of development features FinishLine cladding from James Latham, comprised of Accoya, machined and factory finished in a Sansin coating, and installed by Alderclad. It has delivered two new units, B&M and Mountain Warehouse, with a further Accoya-clad unit planned to complete the retail park.
Mark Jansz, Founding Director of Projekt Architects, emphasised the advantages of specifying Accoya, “Accoya opens up a whole world of possibilities for natural timber, overcoming traditional challenges related to warranties and long-term performance. Phase One was completed five years ago, and the Accoya cladding still looks as good as new. The ability to specify a timber product with confidence in its durability and stability is a game-changer.”
Justin Peckham, Regional Head of Sales at Accsys highlights the benefits of specifying Accoya for commercial projects, “As a product, Accoya is ideal for commercial projects because it delivers both long-term aesthetic appeal and structural reliability. We know that in five, ten, or fifteen years, it will have maintained its integrity without twisting, or warping, providing complete peace of mind for specifiers and developers alike.”
Garry Suggett, Technical Specifications Manager at James Latham said, “We’re proud to have supplied our exclusive FinishLine cladding for this project, as this is a great example of how Accoya can redefine commercial architecture. By combining sustainability with outstanding performance, Accoya ensures that Willowburn Retail Park continues to set new benchmarks for commercial developments that balance environmental and design aspirations.”
See below for a video featuring Projekt Arhcitects, the firm behind the design of Willowburn Retail Park.