GMI Construction the building and construction services company were the successful hosts of a special event that celebrated the start of work at Thorpe Park in Leeds. The construction business hosted the event in order to commemorate the beginning of work on the 300,000 sq. ft retail and leisure park that has been planned in the city. GMI Construction have also tripled their workforce on the project in only to make sure that the development is completed next year. This event also coincided the announcement of a number of new companies joining the list of large companies set to open in the retail park when completed. Achieved through the joint venture partners Scarborough International Properties and Legal & General Capital it has been announced that cinema chain ODEON will become the leisure anchor for Thorpe Park.  Boots have also announced that they will be joining the other retail names on the new retail and leisure park. The two phase development of the park is expected to generate 1.65 million sq. ft. of space that will be occupied in part by big retail brands such as Next, M&S Simply Food, TK MAXX and the Outfit. These companies have already announced that they will be opening major stores at the park. There has been a platform installed on the construction site specifically to allow an elevated view of the work being carried out. The Managing Director of GMI Construction, Andy Bruce has also visited the site recently at this central part of the construction work. Thorpe Park Leeds has been in progress for more than two years, with workers on site establishing earthworks and other superstructure elements that were necessary before the construction work started. On the site there are also Visitor Plaques in order to depict where each occupier will be located as well as where the East Leeds linking road and new railway station will be situated.