What can realistically be done with the old Co-Op?

daz100

Well-Known Forumite
Sell it as previously stated by another poster, but they won't get what they want for it. That is fancy.

Talks are already underway with interested parties (2). Early days but long term the council want housing / apartments which is absolutely the right thing to do.

So SBC will buy these premises?

How will the plan actually come to pass?
 

Goldilox

How do I edit this?
Having just done some Googling it would appear that favourite uses for old department stores are offices or data centres. I also found a number that had been converted into schools or health centres.

It would be nice to see something creative happen there like studios, or a community space.

I suspect the issue is that any re-purposing of these sort of buildings only works when the space is priced to be more cost effective than sticking whatever-you-have-in-mind on a business park somewhere & until then we are probably stuck with an empty department store.
 

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
Having just done some Googling it would appear that favourite uses for old department stores are offices or data centres. I also found a number that had been converted into schools or health centres.

It would be nice to see something creative happen there like studios, or a community space.

I suspect the issue is that any re-purposing of these sort of buildings only works when the space is priced to be more cost effective than sticking whatever-you-have-in-mind on a business park somewhere & until then we are probably stuck with an empty department store.


Recording studios, community arts? The old nun's habit factory would be great for that would it not?

St Patrick's Place

Or was it a shoe factory?
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Having just done some Googling it would appear that favourite uses for old department stores are offices or data centres. I also found a number that had been converted into schools or health centres.

It would be nice to see something creative happen there like studios, or a community space.

I suspect the issue is that any re-purposing of these sort of buildings only works when the space is priced to be more cost effective than sticking whatever-you-have-in-mind on a business park somewhere & until then we are probably stuck with an empty department store.

It does require that business rates are priced reasonably and rent isn’t obscene. You won’t get my £90/sqm rateable value anywhere close to the high street.

However yes, it would definitely make a good multi-purpose space, but that doesn’t fit with the owner’s goals of lining their pockets really, and it’s far too expensive for anyone to consider coming in and handling. I guess a charity could as they pay no rates but it would have to be a very well-off charity
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
No. SBC will not buy anything

The idea that anything will happen to this building in the next five years is fantasy


nobody on here has stated SBC buying anything, but they might depending on any barriers for any development to proceed I.e. via a CPO.

these things take an age and I wouldn't be surprised to not see anything happen for 10 years. But it will a longer term aim

SBC will prioritise moving forward the station gateway first.
 

Feed The Goat

Well-Known Forumite
SBC have no money.

A bit like when the county council said they would purchase Superdrug and demolish it to give better connectivity for Scaffold place and Greengate street.

Didn't happen.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Well what the county do are not SBC choices. plenty they have pushed /been behind have come to fruition and the superdrug thing was outright rumour.

Besides the areas we are talking about for development are owned by the council.
 

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
Well what the county do are not SBC choices. plenty they have pushed /been behind have come to fruition and the superdrug thing was outright rumour.

Besides the areas we are talking about for development are owned by the council.

Between you and I ...

There could be some bargain properties going quite soon on the edge of Stafford

You havent heard it from me but

HS2 to be shelved

Hopton, Ingestre, lovely places

:rich:
 

Feed The Goat

Well-Known Forumite
Well what the county do are not SBC choices. plenty they have pushed /been behind have come to fruition and the superdrug thing was outright rumour.

Besides the areas we are talking about for development are owned by the council.

The Superdrug thing was NOT a rumour. It was definitely in black and white that SCC wanted to do it. They just had no money to do it.
 

daz100

Well-Known Forumite
Well what the county do are not SBC choices. plenty they have pushed /been behind have come to fruition and the superdrug thing was outright rumour.

Besides the areas we are talking about for development are owned by the council.
What areas?
 
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