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What can realistically be done with the old Co-Op?
- Thread starter Tumble weed
- Start date
Cue
Well-Known Forumite
First look at the future transformation of derelict Stafford department store
31/10/2023
The first images of how a derelict department store could look on Stafford High Street have been revealed.
Stafford Borough Council has released computer generated images of proposals for the former Co-op building in the town’s Gaolgate Street.
Last month senior Councillors gave the green light to buy the large iconic store which has been empty for more than a decade with proposals to convert into a mix of retail, food court, residential and market use as part of a major transformation of the area.
The images show how the traditional parts of the front of the building in Gaolgate Street will be retained with the rest being transformed. The second image focuses on the rejuvenation of the inside of the old store and the potential for a food hall.
The money to purchase the store was secured by the council from the government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF). The FHSF has already supported the recent refurbishment of the town’s Market Square and work to improve the approach and entrance to Stafford Railway Station, which will get underway in the coming months.
Leader of the council, Aidan Godfrey, said these were exciting times for the future of the center of the county town.
“Improving the town center was the number one issue for local people - and it is now the top priority of this council. We are pushing ahead with some fantastic plans for our town and it is exciting to have a glimpse of what this run-down, former department store could look like in the future.
Deputy Leader, Rob Kenney, who is leading on the town center transformation, said: “What we are doing sends a strong message to potential businesses and investors that this is a town with big ambitions and a council who is prepared to take the lead to make that evolution happen.
“We will deliver a center fit for the County Town, that residents will be proud of, businesses will want to invest in, and visitors will come to shop, eat and drink, socialize and spend their free time.
“Local people have waited a long time to see something happening and the plans we have for this prominent, disused building in the heart of the town center is a huge statement of our intent.”
Confidential discussions are still taking place around other changes to the town center which form part of the Future High Street Fund programme.
There is significant investment being made in the county town with other projects underway or recently delivered such as the Staffordshire History Center and the business hub at Shire Hall, which is reaching full capacity, and plans taking shape around the Stafford Station Gateway and Eastgate areas of town.
Press Release No 6081
Seems promising… I guess it’ll basically be a better guildhall
The Hawk
Well-Known Forumite
If they can end up with anything like Crewe's Market Hall then it would be fantastic.First look at the future transformation of derelict Stafford department store
31/10/2023
The first images of how a derelict department store could look on Stafford High Street have been revealed.
Stafford Borough Council has released computer generated images of proposals for the former Co-op building in the town’s Gaolgate Street.
Last month senior Councillors gave the green light to buy the large iconic store which has been empty for more than a decade with proposals to convert into a mix of retail, food court, residential and market use as part of a major transformation of the area.
The images show how the traditional parts of the front of the building in Gaolgate Street will be retained with the rest being transformed. The second image focuses on the rejuvenation of the inside of the old store and the potential for a food hall.
The money to purchase the store was secured by the council from the government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF). The FHSF has already supported the recent refurbishment of the town’s Market Square and work to improve the approach and entrance to Stafford Railway Station, which will get underway in the coming months.
Leader of the council, Aidan Godfrey, said these were exciting times for the future of the center of the county town.
“Improving the town center was the number one issue for local people - and it is now the top priority of this council. We are pushing ahead with some fantastic plans for our town and it is exciting to have a glimpse of what this run-down, former department store could look like in the future.
Deputy Leader, Rob Kenney, who is leading on the town center transformation, said: “What we are doing sends a strong message to potential businesses and investors that this is a town with big ambitions and a council who is prepared to take the lead to make that evolution happen.
“We will deliver a center fit for the County Town, that residents will be proud of, businesses will want to invest in, and visitors will come to shop, eat and drink, socialize and spend their free time.
“Local people have waited a long time to see something happening and the plans we have for this prominent, disused building in the heart of the town center is a huge statement of our intent.”
Confidential discussions are still taking place around other changes to the town center which form part of the Future High Street Fund programme.
There is significant investment being made in the county town with other projects underway or recently delivered such as the Staffordshire History Center and the business hub at Shire Hall, which is reaching full capacity, and plans taking shape around the Stafford Station Gateway and Eastgate areas of town.
Press Release No 6081
gilbert grape
Well-Known Forumite
Regarding what they class as office space, I'd think they would be units adapted to small businesses or things such as estate agents. Speaking of which, I was somewhere in Stafford a few weeks ago and counted the For Sale signs. It registered that we no longer have just a few local agents, and worked out there were more than a dozen different signs, so this sort of business could move into such offices.
With the Guildhall and Co-Op being in such close proximity, and them both being touted for multi use development, just maybe they will feed off each other.
With the Guildhall and Co-Op being in such close proximity, and them both being touted for multi use development, just maybe they will feed off each other.
Trumpet
Well-Known Forumite
But they will already have premises.
gilbert grape
Well-Known Forumite
But they may be better premises.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
I'd hope they'd be on top of that, what with the line of business they're in!
The problem will be for many small businesses office space is still a huge cost, and as many staff are now happy to work from home it's one they can avoid in the main. The only ones who'd need a real office would be those welcoming customers physically, not sure how many do that nowadays nor how many would want a unit without a shop front?
How much is a 'small' office nowadays?
gilbert grape
Well-Known Forumite
There are some businesses up on the Tech Park that could easily take up a town centre spot, if it made it easier for them to be reached. Depends on if people want to park directly at their place of business or Stafford sorts it's ever unwelcoming parking policy! Every plot sold to private parking companies or plastered with fine notices hardly encourages people into the town, does it!
Cue
Well-Known Forumite
Yes please, some of the B2C businesses can be a real pain as their customers don’t put any effort into not taking spaces clearly marked for another business.
Theresa Green
Well-Known Forumite
The old coop is really the whole town
What could be done with the whole town centre
The whole town centre is really the UK
What could be done with the whole of the UK
The UK is really modern society
What could be done with modern society
Modern society is really the human condition
What?
Oh
Did you know that
You can buy a mirror that shows your true self, not a reflection
Yeh
What could be done with the whole town centre
The whole town centre is really the UK
What could be done with the whole of the UK
The UK is really modern society
What could be done with modern society
Modern society is really the human condition
What?
Oh
Did you know that
You can buy a mirror that shows your true self, not a reflection
Yeh
markpa12003
Well-Known Forumite
I suspect most office workers given the choice would rather work in the centre of town - I know I would. However, even though my office is in some fancy offices in the centre of Birmingham I still rarely venture in.
Personally, I find working from out of town business parks very dull because there is often limited things you can do on your lunch break or places to eat. However, i can see why businesses do prefer out of town business parks because they are usually easier to get too and there is FREE on site parking available.
If the council are serious about wanting offices / businesses to relocate back into the town centre they need to provide free parking for the businesses. Sadly, I don't have alot of faith in SBC.
Personally, I find working from out of town business parks very dull because there is often limited things you can do on your lunch break or places to eat. However, i can see why businesses do prefer out of town business parks because they are usually easier to get too and there is FREE on site parking available.
If the council are serious about wanting offices / businesses to relocate back into the town centre they need to provide free parking for the businesses. Sadly, I don't have alot of faith in SBC.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Its a very valid point, it's bad enough paying to commute but then having to also pay to park there is a kick in the teeth. With parking costs plus fuel and other related costs I guess people are spending £10/day easily?
kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
Is this not an opportunity to push workers away from the car dependency? Regular buses, dedicated cycle paths and safe bike storage, this is what the council should be promoting.
I work out of town on an industrial estate office and it's very bleak no doubt. If you forget your dinner you will have a day of starvation or spend your dinner hour driving somewhere to buy food.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
The longer I spend out of the UK the more ludicrous I find the place. Most countries have public transport to help people get about, we use it as a revenue stream for the private sector. We have a bizarre situation where we carefully balance the cost of getting a train versus the cost of driving then parking, to ensure they get the most out of you no matter which way you try to go. In Riga a monthly bus/tram pass is €30, in Amsterdam there is a free ferry near central because otherwise they'd have to build a bigger bridge, in the UK it's £12 to park at the train station to get the train that costs 3x more than driving would have and then leaves you nowhere near where you wanted to be in the first place because we only run the most profitable routes!
Theresa Green
Well-Known Forumite
I pay my rates!
Why should I spend my money buying a no go business
And then pay another to destroy it
And then pay someone else to landscape it
I should not
Nor should a ( Conservative ) government impose such a regimented structure on a spend . It’s inflexible, shortsighted, narrow minded, and up to its eyes in shyte
They Are Amongst Us
Why should I spend my money buying a no go business
And then pay another to destroy it
And then pay someone else to landscape it
I should not
Nor should a ( Conservative ) government impose such a regimented structure on a spend . It’s inflexible, shortsighted, narrow minded, and up to its eyes in shyte
They Are Amongst Us
airbusA346
Well-Known Forumite
Just Eat, Tesco Whoosh etc?
Theresa Green
Well-Known Forumite
I invented Whoosh! in 1976
kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
I feel like luddite but I've never used any!