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| Debenhams closures: Four ways to use the empty stores | Debenhams closures: Four ways to use the empty stores |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Last week Debenhams named 22 of the 50 stores it plans to close as part of a plan by new owners to revive the department store chain. | Last week Debenhams named 22 of the 50 stores it plans to close as part of a plan by new owners to revive the department store chain. |
| But what will happen to all that empty retail space? | But what will happen to all that empty retail space? |
| In total, 235 former department stores currently stand empty across the UK following a spate of recent closures, according to the Local Data Company. | In total, 235 former department stores currently stand empty across the UK following a spate of recent closures, according to the Local Data Company. |
| That is up from 82 in 2014. | That is up from 82 in 2014. |
| However, some former shops are finding inventive ways to reuse redundant space, offering potential inspiration for any Debenhams stores that struggle to find buyers. | However, some former shops are finding inventive ways to reuse redundant space, offering potential inspiration for any Debenhams stores that struggle to find buyers. |
| We look at four ways former retail buildings are being given a new lease of life. | We look at four ways former retail buildings are being given a new lease of life. |
| 1. Become an office/ community hub | 1. Become an office/ community hub |
| Havens department store in Southend-on-Sea opened in 1901, but as far back as the late 1990s its owners could see footfall was declining. | Havens department store in Southend-on-Sea opened in 1901, but as far back as the late 1990s its owners could see footfall was declining. |
| "We are 10,000 square feet, built as a department store but that's an anachronism today," says Nigel Havens. "We had to make better use of the freehold before it was too late." | "We are 10,000 square feet, built as a department store but that's an anachronism today," says Nigel Havens. "We had to make better use of the freehold before it was too late." |
| In 2017 he took action, closing the department store and moving the homeware-and-gifts business online, and running the operation from the top floor of the Grade II listed shop. | In 2017 he took action, closing the department store and moving the homeware-and-gifts business online, and running the operation from the top floor of the Grade II listed shop. |
| He then rented out the first and second floors to charity Age Concern Southend, which is using it for a community hub. | |
| Elderly people can now drop in for tea and cake, play table tennis and attend drawing and keep-fit classes. | Elderly people can now drop in for tea and cake, play table tennis and attend drawing and keep-fit classes. |
| And the charity plans to bring in businesses and services aimed at older people, including a hairdressers, a café open to the public, bereavement counselling and a clinic. | And the charity plans to bring in businesses and services aimed at older people, including a hairdressers, a café open to the public, bereavement counselling and a clinic. |
| He says the move has kept his firm "on a good footing", and while the Havens' building no longer serves High Street shoppers, people can still click and collect. | He says the move has kept his firm "on a good footing", and while the Havens' building no longer serves High Street shoppers, people can still click and collect. |
| 2. Create a launchpad for new businesses | 2. Create a launchpad for new businesses |
| Stockton upon Tees is in the midst of a big plan to revitalise its town centre, and one scheme has involved converting a former department store into a "start-up incubator". | Stockton upon Tees is in the midst of a big plan to revitalise its town centre, and one scheme has involved converting a former department store into a "start-up incubator". |
| Backed by the local council, the "Fountain Shopping Mall - Home of the Enterprise Arcade" rents spaces to independent businesses at low rates and doesn't charge them business rates. Its 16 tenants range from independent jewellers to cafes. | Backed by the local council, the "Fountain Shopping Mall - Home of the Enterprise Arcade" rents spaces to independent businesses at low rates and doesn't charge them business rates. Its 16 tenants range from independent jewellers to cafes. |
| Bill Grimsey, a former chief executive of Wickes and Iceland, thinks the scheme is a great way to let people try out business ideas without having to "take out big loans". | Bill Grimsey, a former chief executive of Wickes and Iceland, thinks the scheme is a great way to let people try out business ideas without having to "take out big loans". |
| A number of businesses formerly at the Arcade have also migrated to bigger premises in the town centre. | A number of businesses formerly at the Arcade have also migrated to bigger premises in the town centre. |
| Mr Grimsey, who has led two government reviews on regenerating the High Street, notes how Stockton has also opened two new theatres and launched a programme of events to revamp the town centre. | Mr Grimsey, who has led two government reviews on regenerating the High Street, notes how Stockton has also opened two new theatres and launched a programme of events to revamp the town centre. |
| "You can no longer rely on retailing to be the anchor for your town," he says. "The key is creating an experience that makes people want to be there." | "You can no longer rely on retailing to be the anchor for your town," he says. "The key is creating an experience that makes people want to be there." |
| 3. Use empty retail space for cultural activities | 3. Use empty retail space for cultural activities |
| Dan Thompson runs the Empty Shops Network, a consultancy that helps artists and performers reuse redundant spaces. | Dan Thompson runs the Empty Shops Network, a consultancy that helps artists and performers reuse redundant spaces. |
| Over the last 10 years he's seen empty retail units turned into theatre spaces, pop-up museums and artists' studios. | Over the last 10 years he's seen empty retail units turned into theatre spaces, pop-up museums and artists' studios. |
| While these sort of activities don't offer a long term solution for disused shops, he says they do help landlords market buildings to prospective tenants. | While these sort of activities don't offer a long term solution for disused shops, he says they do help landlords market buildings to prospective tenants. |
| "We took a former Allied Carpets showroom in Worthing, put in a bunch of projects over a few months, including a vintage market, bumper cars during half term, and an exhibition by the local art college," he says. | "We took a former Allied Carpets showroom in Worthing, put in a bunch of projects over a few months, including a vintage market, bumper cars during half term, and an exhibition by the local art college," he says. |
| "Someone came along and fell in love with the space and decided to buy it and turn it into offices for his software company." | "Someone came along and fell in love with the space and decided to buy it and turn it into offices for his software company." |
| Mr Thompson says the new office, which employs 150, has also boosted demand at local shops and cafes. | Mr Thompson says the new office, which employs 150, has also boosted demand at local shops and cafes. |
| 4. Turned into shops, housing or eateries | 4. Turned into shops, housing or eateries |
| According to the Local Data Company, some former department stores will be snapped up by other retailers if they're in the right location. | According to the Local Data Company, some former department stores will be snapped up by other retailers if they're in the right location. |
| In 2018, for example eight BHS stores became B&M Bargains, six went to Primark, four went to H&M and five went to Poundland, with Wilco and Next also acquiring sites. | In 2018, for example eight BHS stores became B&M Bargains, six went to Primark, four went to H&M and five went to Poundland, with Wilco and Next also acquiring sites. |
| Ronald Nyakairu, a senior insight analyst at LDC, says some stores have been turned into housing too. | Ronald Nyakairu, a senior insight analyst at LDC, says some stores have been turned into housing too. |
| "A lot of these stores are in quite prominent High Streets, with the highest footfall and central locations, and people increasingly want to live in these places." | "A lot of these stores are in quite prominent High Streets, with the highest footfall and central locations, and people increasingly want to live in these places." |
| Former department stores are also being turned into leisure facilities that are more likely to draw people into town and city centres. | Former department stores are also being turned into leisure facilities that are more likely to draw people into town and city centres. |
| Former BHS stores have become gyms, hotels and restaurants, while crazy golf operator Swingers moved into the first floor of the former BHS flagship store on London's Oxford Street. | Former BHS stores have become gyms, hotels and restaurants, while crazy golf operator Swingers moved into the first floor of the former BHS flagship store on London's Oxford Street. |
| In another example, drinks giant Diageo hopes to secure planning permission to build a Johnnie Walker "visitor experience" at the former House of Fraser building in Edinburgh's Princes Street. | In another example, drinks giant Diageo hopes to secure planning permission to build a Johnnie Walker "visitor experience" at the former House of Fraser building in Edinburgh's Princes Street. |