RG Group took possession of the site as the main contractor on 3 April 2017

Legal & General (L&G) has revealed the appointment of Kent-based construction specialist, RG Group, as the main build contractor for the St James retail and leisure regeneration development in Dover town centre. 

Work on the 157,000ft² scheme, worth £53.3m and funded by L&G on behalf of LGIM Real Assets’ Managed Fund, is already well underway. Construction works are progressing for the Cineworld, a restaurant block, and the main retail block on Townwall Street. Construction of a 108-bed Travelodge hotel is also underway.

Maidstone-based, Gallagher Group has been on site since December 2016 and will continue as a sub-contractor, while RG Group took possession of the site as the main contractor on 3 April 2017. The development is currently 80% pre-let, with recent lettings at the scheme include Shoe Zone, Card Factory, Carphone Warehouse and Greggs.

Neil Crawford, head of retail and leisure development at LGIM Real Assets, said: “Already significantly pre-let, St James, Dover will provide a modern, fit for purpose and highly prominent retail and leisure destination for the town.

Clive Lynton, development director at developers, Bond City, said: “We are delighted to be working with a Kent-based construction company.  We were impressed with RG’s credentials in the retail sector and look forward to working with them to complete this exciting development for Dover.”

And Trevor Puttick, director at RG Group, said:“We look forward to working with both Bond City and L&G to deliver an excellent scheme for Dover.’’

Practical completion of the development is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.