PeterD
ST16 Represent.
I think you have kind of hit the nail on the head, part time, small number of hours per person.
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Stafford shops opening - Turning into a boom town?
- Thread starter Trumpet
- Start date
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
1 to serve, 34 to chat out the back?
joshua
Well-Known Forumite
Stafford Borough Council
Councillors are to discuss buying the Guildhall Shopping Center in Stafford next week (7 December.)
The project, to help drive major regeneration in town, will be funded via money Stafford Borough Council secured from the Government's Future High Street Fund.
The proposal was announced at a meeting of the council tonight.
More information from https://bit.ly/sbcguildhall
Glam
Mad Cat Woman
What's that mean for the future? It could reopen with shops again? Be nice if it did.
joshua
Well-Known Forumite
Stafford Shopping Center is new target on Council’s Christmas wish list
28/11/2023
Stafford Borough Council is proposing to buy the town’s Guildhall Shopping Center.
The local authority has announced it intends to purchase the center, which is home to around 20 retail and business units, as part of ambitious transformation plans for the town.
Only a few weeks ago the borough council revealed they were to buy the former Co-op department store on the High Street with plans for the derelict building to include a mix of retail, food court, residential and a market offer.
Now they have “gone one better” with senior Councillors to discuss a proposal to purchase the Guildhall Shopping Center - which also includes the multi-storey car park and office accommodation. Currently there are only a handful of shops trading inside the complex - such as The Fragrance Shop and Eurochange.
The borough council has said they would put forward a business case with potential options for the center and would be asking the public for feedback on any proposals next year.
A report to the council’s cabinet next week (Thursday 7 December) says that because of the huge scale of the project they will be looking for a partner to redevelop the site - while preserving businesses around the premises such as the Body Shop and jewellers, F Hinds.
But a valuation report commissioned for the local authority rules out any chance of bringing the multi-storey car park back into use in the short term because of significant work required - saying it doesn’t provide “a viable option for the council.”
Councillors will hear that previous plans by the owners of the Guildhall to develop the site had stalled - and could take many years to start or may never come to fruition. And with the council keen to speed up the pace of major regeneration of the High Street - the best way to ensure a quality development could be brought forward, and give the public the opportunity to share their views, would be to buy the building.
The council secured more than £14 million from the Government’s Future High Street Fund which will support the acquisition of the site.
The front of the shopping center sits at the foot of the newly refurbished Market Square in the heart of the town - and adjacent to the derelict Co-op store.
Council leader, Aidan Godfrey, said “Improving the town center was the number one issue for residents - and it is the top priority for this council. We already made a statement of intent with our plans for the former Co-op department store - and now we want to go one better and buy the Guildhall shopping center.
“By taking the lead on these significant developments we can increase the pace of our regeneration plans which in turn will act as the catalyst for the evolution of the town center.”
Deputy leader, Rob Kenney, who is leading on the town center regeneration, said: “We want residents to be proud of their county town, we want visitors to come and shop, we want people to socialise and spend time using hospitality venues, and we want businesses to invest.
He added: “We are a proactive local authority and in the last few weeks we have demonstrated that we have big ambitions to kick start regeneration - and this is exactly what the council should be doing.”
Cllr Kenney added: “If we are successful in acquiring the Guildhall Center then we will be giving our residents and businesses an opportunity to share their views on what they want to see.”
Other initiatives backed by the FHSF included the Market Square refurbishment and work that will go ahead soon to enhance the entrance and approach to Stafford Railway Station.
And 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. With plans taking shape around the Eastgate area of town and the Stafford Station Gateway - which will include a government-backed Institute of Technology for Stafford College as well as new businesses, homes, and leisure offer – and was recently in the news after it was announced it would receive around £20 million to help fund the project.
Press Release No 6090
Carole
Well-Known Forumite
I agree although it depends on the shops.
I still think it’s ridiculous that we are the county town and yet we don’t have a department store.
I had to trek all the way to Solihull last week to visit John Lewis, but while I was there I spent a very pleasant few hours just mooching. I’m not a massive shopper but it was just so lovely to see proper shops instead of barbers and vape shops.
I do wish that the Stafford powers that be would take note.
Tumble weed
Well-Known Forumite
But department stores don't exist today , John Lewis couldn't make their flagship Bull Ring store work, with unbelievable footfall and passing trade from commuters , the chance of opening a store in Stafford is zero.
Sports Direct could open Flannels but I think they're even struggling to get that line of stores off the ground and probably operate it as a loss.
It is good that the Guildhall will be subject to a compulsory purchase order, as the current owners are completely useless and are just letting the centre fall into disrepair, but the only way it'll work is going down the independent route I reckon.
All the national chains are struggling to survive. I guess too many underperforming branches with long rents and leases are killing them.
Even the entertainer looks like it's actually winding down , not just closing the odd store here and there unfortunately.
Sports Direct could open Flannels but I think they're even struggling to get that line of stores off the ground and probably operate it as a loss.
It is good that the Guildhall will be subject to a compulsory purchase order, as the current owners are completely useless and are just letting the centre fall into disrepair, but the only way it'll work is going down the independent route I reckon.
All the national chains are struggling to survive. I guess too many underperforming branches with long rents and leases are killing them.
Even the entertainer looks like it's actually winding down , not just closing the odd store here and there unfortunately.
YorkshirePud
Well-Known Forumite
At least they've managed to correct the spelling of 'Centre' on their website story.
Mudgie
Well-Known Forumite
markpa12003
Well-Known Forumite
Sbc being proactive. Wow. I never thought I'd see the day.
Maybe they are not so useless after all....
Maybe they are not so useless after all....
Theresa Green
Well-Known Forumite
If every town is full of chains you visit the nearest town with the best parking and general shopping experience. Alternatively if the council/landlords support local businesses then the town has shops you have to visit Stafford to experience.
Theresa Green
Well-Known Forumite
Shrewsbury
Only shops who’s owners were born between the Great War and Transvestism are allowed to trade on a Sunday after sunset
PeterD
ST16 Represent.
I went to "The Gym" on The friary Retail Park (next to TK Maxx) yesterday for the first time. Hmmm, not entirely sure I will remain with them as I feel the offering at Pure Gym is better. It is however new, and clean. A little cavernous, but thats the limitations of the space. I was struggling to get in at one point and due to their lack of staff, or their staff already feeling jaded, the one staff member sat at a table directly in front of the doors ignored me and it was a gym goer that came to my rescue. I only saw one staff member whilst I was there at 5pm.
It is however very quiet, figuratively and literally, on the one hand it means you aren't waiting for apparatus, and on the other, the only sound is fellow lardys grunting.
It is however very quiet, figuratively and literally, on the one hand it means you aren't waiting for apparatus, and on the other, the only sound is fellow lardys grunting.
Mudgie
Well-Known Forumite
"I only saw one staff member whilst I was there at 5pm" - so a bit like going to a Wetherspoons ?
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Surely that would be one member of staff and half a dozen alcoholics?
Feed The Goat
Well-Known Forumite
Stafford Borough Council take it upon themselves to try and buy gigantic dilapidated buidings in the town centre.Stafford Shopping Center is new target on Council’s Christmas wish list
28/11/2023
Stafford Borough Council is proposing to buy the town’s Guildhall Shopping Center.
The local authority has announced it intends to purchase the center, which is home to around 20 retail and business units, as part of ambitious transformation plans for the town.
Only a few weeks ago the borough council revealed they were to buy the former Co-op department store on the High Street with plans for the derelict building to include a mix of retail, food court, residential and a market offer.
Now they have “gone one better” with senior Councillors to discuss a proposal to purchase the Guildhall Shopping Center - which also includes the multi-storey car park and office accommodation. Currently there are only a handful of shops trading inside the complex - such as The Fragrance Shop and Eurochange.
The borough council has said they would put forward a business case with potential options for the center and would be asking the public for feedback on any proposals next year.
A report to the council’s cabinet next week (Thursday 7 December) says that because of the huge scale of the project they will be looking for a partner to redevelop the site - while preserving businesses around the premises such as the Body Shop and jewellers, F Hinds.
But a valuation report commissioned for the local authority rules out any chance of bringing the multi-storey car park back into use in the short term because of significant work required - saying it doesn’t provide “a viable option for the council.”
Councillors will hear that previous plans by the owners of the Guildhall to develop the site had stalled - and could take many years to start or may never come to fruition. And with the council keen to speed up the pace of major regeneration of the High Street - the best way to ensure a quality development could be brought forward, and give the public the opportunity to share their views, would be to buy the building.
The council secured more than £14 million from the Government’s Future High Street Fund which will support the acquisition of the site.
The front of the shopping center sits at the foot of the newly refurbished Market Square in the heart of the town - and adjacent to the derelict Co-op store.
Council leader, Aidan Godfrey, said “Improving the town center was the number one issue for residents - and it is the top priority for this council. We already made a statement of intent with our plans for the former Co-op department store - and now we want to go one better and buy the Guildhall shopping center.
“By taking the lead on these significant developments we can increase the pace of our regeneration plans which in turn will act as the catalyst for the evolution of the town center.”
Deputy leader, Rob Kenney, who is leading on the town center regeneration, said: “We want residents to be proud of their county town, we want visitors to come and shop, we want people to socialise and spend time using hospitality venues, and we want businesses to invest.
He added: “We are a proactive local authority and in the last few weeks we have demonstrated that we have big ambitions to kick start regeneration - and this is exactly what the council should be doing.”
Cllr Kenney added: “If we are successful in acquiring the Guildhall Center then we will be giving our residents and businesses an opportunity to share their views on what they want to see.”
Other initiatives backed by the FHSF included the Market Square refurbishment and work that will go ahead soon to enhance the entrance and approach to Stafford Railway Station.
And 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. With plans taking shape around the Eastgate area of town and the Stafford Station Gateway - which will include a government-backed Institute of Technology for Stafford College as well as new businesses, homes, and leisure offer – and was recently in the news after it was announced it would receive around £20 million to help fund the project.
Press Release No 6090
It is a pity they didn.t get a tad more involved for the last ten years whilst it turned to sh1t in front of their very eyes.
It is a bit like sending a vet to Tesco to see if he could get a frozen chicken to lay an egg.
Its too fecking late boys.
Cue
Well-Known Forumite
They may well have done, and the owners wanted nothing of it
They can only do a compulsory purchase with good reason.
However, I look forward to all the “spending our money!” complaints while also complaining that the council don’t invest in Stafford