Enhancing visitor experience through transformational landscaping

Located in the heart of Teesside between Middlesbrough and Thornaby, Teesside Shopping Park is a major regional retail destination, owned by British Land and operated by Stockton Retail Park Ltd. As one of the North East’s busiest commercial centres, the park sits at a key intersection between the A66 and A19, serving a high volume of customers across the Teesside area.

With significant regeneration initiatives underway in the region, British Land identified a unique opportunity to modernise the park’s outdoor environment. There was a desire to create more space outside of the shop fronts, creating two key pedestrian routes, along with adding a landscaping aesthetic to enhance visitors shopping experiences.

Teesside Shopping Park public walkway with shrub and herbaceous material planted either side.

Balancing operational continuity with enhanced public spaces

As part of a wider £12 million refurbishment, British Land wanted to improve the public realm around retail frontages. Their vision was to:

Create two new pedestrian routes
Increase space outside shop fronts
Add attractive landscaping features to enhance the customer experience

However, this wasn’t without challenges. The park had to remain fully operational during construction, meaning any work needed to be done with minimal disruption to the public. There were also aesthetic and functional expectations to meet, particularly in creating safe, attractive, and usable spaces that would encourage dwell time and footfall.

British Land had been let down in the past and required a reliable and expert partner to deliver against tight deadlines, protect their reputation, and realise their vision with precision and care.

Expert soft landscaping to bring British Land’s vision to life

Gavin Jones Ltd, part of Nurture Group, was brought in as the specialist soft landscaping contractor, working directly with the main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland and landscape architects Macgregor Smith.

Our role involved the full supply and installation of:

Over 193 semi-mature trees
More than 25,000 shrubs
Custom Corten steel edging
Bespoke timber benches and sun loungers
A pixel play wall and play equipment
Soft surfacing including a wet pour running track

From the outset, Gavin Jones added value by overseeing tree tagging and coordinating the contract growing of all shrub and herbaceous material, ensuring everything met the client’s expectations in terms of quality and design integrity.

Phased delivery and collaborative management for seamless execution

The project unfolded over a 22-month construction period between January 2019 and November 2020. The park’s location and constant public access meant that phased delivery was key. The team carefully phased the closure of car park sections and walkways to keep public access open, as well as uphold high health and safety standards. Early morning deliveries and overnight working patterns were implimented to minimise disruption even further.

Regular visits to key suppliers ensured material quality remained high throughout. Gavin Jones worked collaboratively with all stakeholders, managing evolving site logistics and adapting plans when necessary to keep everything on schedule and within budget.

Creating a greener, safer, and more inviting retail environment

The landscaping works at Teesside Shopping Park delivered a significant and visible transformation. Creating a safer, more inviting and user-friendly public realm. The space now encourages people to not only visit but to spend more time on-site. Improving the overall customer journey and supporting commercial objectives.

Key outcomes included:

The addition of 193 semi-mature trees and over 25,000 shrubs, which brought immediate greenery, long-term structure and seasonal interest to the site.
Installation of custom Corten steel edging, bespoke timber benches, and innovative play features such as a pixel play wall and wet pour running track, adding vibrancy and encouraging family engagement.
Clear, well-marked walkways made it easier and safer for pedestrians to navigate the site.
Dwell time was increased with the addition of play areas and relaxing green spaces.
The team put public safety first while still delivering an attractive, user-friendly environment.

These enhancements not only improved navigation and comfort but introduced new reasons for visitors to interact with the space. The project balanced aesthetic improvements with practical functionality and was delivered while the retail park remained fully operational. This had minimal disruption to customers thanks to phased working, early deliveries and overnight installations.

British Land praised the impact of the scheme, with a senior representative stating:

“The landscape upgrade works have provided a lift to the public realm in collaboration with the recent shop façade works, creating a clear separation between the car park and shop side pedestrian areas. The incorporation of garden spaces and play elements within the park has provided opportunities for people to dwell and further enjoy the retail offer. The new protected central walkway provides a segregated and safe walking route across the car park with green pocket spaces to enjoy adjacent to the food offer.”

The scheme’s success was formally recognised with a BALI Award in 2021 for
Soft Landscaping Construction (Non-Domestic) over £500k. This accolade highlighted the quality of Gavin Jones’ workmanship, the strength of collaboration across all stakeholders, and the overall contribution the project made to placemaking within a high-traffic retail setting.

Ready to transform your public spaces into vibrant landscapes?

Whether you manage a retail destination, business park or large public spaces, Gavin Jones delivers award-winning landscape construction services that combine quality craftsmanship, expert coordination, and an eye for detail. If you’re looking to enhance your site’s visual appeal, improve visitor experience, or meet your sustainability and planning goals, we’re here to help make it happen.

With decades of experience, a national presence, and a trusted reputation, we work closely with clients, contractors and designers to bring ambitious outdoor visions to life.