End-to-end retailer journey: from enquiry to trading
Workman’s specialist retail project management team has delivered circa £300m worth of enabling-works projects at many of the UK’s top 25 largest shopping centres over the past two/three years, for around 200 stores, including Zara, Next, Apple, M&S, and Sephora.
This is in addition to millions of pounds worth of ongoing service charge projects and enhancement schemes (mall refurbishments, schemes, public realm etc) across the UK’s most prominent destinations.
Bringing a new retailer into a high-profile retail and leisure destination involves multiple parties, legal milestones, and technical workstreams running simultaneously. This table tracks each one: from the first leasing enquiry to the moment a retailer opens for trading, showing exactly where Workman’s Building Consultancy and Retail Delivery teams add value at every stage of the journey.
A stage-by-stage breakdown of the retailer journey, mapping the RIBA Plan of Work, the letting process, and Workman BC projects and Retail Delivery inputs from strategic enquiry to consent to trade.
RIBA Stage 0
Strategic definition
RIBA Stage 0
Strategic definition
Letting process
Enquiry
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- High-level pre-feasibility advice
- Early budget steer
Workman Retail Delivery
Not yet engaged
RIBA Stage 1
Preparation & briefing
RIBA Stage 1
Preparation & briefing
Letting process
HOTS
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Feasibility studies.
- Review draft HOTs for technical deliverability.
Workman Retail Delivery
- Issue introductory documentation to retailer’s team.
- Issue concept pack to designer.
RIBA Stage 2
Preparation & briefing
RIBA Stage 2
Preparation & briefing
Letting process
Draft AFL
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Input into AFL drafting.
- Draft AFL shell spec and drawings.
Workman Retail Delivery
RD01 Concept approval
- Review shopfront, layout, and elevations.
- Issue concept approval to retailer’s designer.
RIBA Stage 3
Spatial coordination
RIBA Stage 3
Spatial coordination
Letting process
AFL exchange
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Design and procurement.
- Remove AFL conditions.
Workman Retail Delivery
RD02 Detailed approval
- Review tenant RD03 information.
- Issue Notification of Works.
- Hold pre-start meeting.
RIBA Stage 4
Technical design
RIBA Stage 4
Technical design
Letting process
Appoint Contractor
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Appoint contractor.
- Building contract.
- Confirm insurances and H&S requirements.
Workman Retail Delivery
RD03 Pre-start approval
- Review tenant RD03 information.
- Issue Notification of Works.
- Hold pre-start meeting.
RIBA Stage 5
Manufacturing & construction
RIBA Stage 5
Manufacturing & construction
Letting process
Construction
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Works managed within trading centre environment.
- Administer building contract
- Follow AFL mechanisms, track obligations.
Workman Retail Delivery
- Ongoing coordination with BC and asset management.
- Monitor retailer fit-out progress.
RIBA Stage 6
Handover
RIBA Stage 6
Handover
Letting process
Construction
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Comply with access conditions
- Inspect and handover.
Workman Retail Delivery
RD04
- Check snagging completed.
- Obtain final RD04 information.
- Issue as-built drawings for lease completion.
RIBA Stage 7
Use
RIBA Stage 7
Use
Letting process
Lease Completion
Workman Building Consultancy Retail Project Management
- Provide client with all information required for lease completion.
Workman Retail Delivery
- Retailer opens for trading; property management takes over.
AFL: Agreement for Lease: the binding legal mechanism governing landlord and tenant obligations throughout the project. Workman BC drafts the technical specification, removes AFL conditions and ensures the building contract is back-to-back with AFL and then project manages the works to deliver smooth handover ensuring compliance with the AFL mechanism and Access Conditions
RD milestones (RD01–RD04): Workman’s Retail Delivery approval gates, required at key design and construction stages before works can proceed.
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