Marina Development Goes Ahead With Support Of Irwin Mitchell

2nd December 2013

Construction Work Follows Refinancing Deal Construction work has begun on the new waterside retail, restaurant and office development at Mercia Marina following a refinancing deal brokered by the Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell.

Davlyn Construction has been appointed as main contractor for The Boardwalk development, which is scheduled to open to the public in September 2014. The Boardwalk will comprise a central restaurant, built over two floors and recessed to include an outdoor seating area on the water front. The restaurant will be flanked by three retail units on each side and the remaining upper floor space will include up to four small office units. Mercia Marina has already attracted two flagship retailers: The Butcher, The Baker, The Ice Cream Maker to operate a farm shop, and the clothing retailer Bluewater. Negotiations for the restaurant operator have reached a successful conclusion. Davlyn broke ground at the 74-acre South Derbyshire site marking yet another important milestone for Mercia Marina in its fifth anniversary year. Kevin Docherty, a real estate partner with the Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell, advised Mercia Marina's owner Madecorn Leisure on the latest development at the site. He said: -Irwin Mitchell have been involved with the Mercia Marina development from its inception and we are delighted to work on this latest stage. This is an important milestone in what will be a significant mixed use development on the site and another important step in it becoming a key tourism destination for the region. Robert Neff, general manager at Mercia Marina, said: -This project has been several years in the making, so it's hugely exciting to see it finally becoming a reality. -We look forward to welcoming new visitors to the marina next year, boosting local tourism and helping to create much-needed jobs for South Derbyshire. The Boardwalk has been designed to complement the marina, with the use of locally sourced stone, timber cladding and large amount of glazing, which will reflect the marina's 24-acre waterscape. The Boardwalk represents the first phase of a larger development, which will include more shops and eating and drinking establishments.