Cheltenham based Coombes:everitt architects are developing a key project to reinvigorate redundant retail space on the town's historic Promenade.

Changing retail trends post-pandemic have seen many retailers leaving town centres and focusing on their online offering or moving to smaller units with more flexible space and lower rental costs.

The former Gap store and the neighbouring Superdry outlet see a significant part of the Promenade standing empty and leaving a gap along this previously vibrant and exclusive shopping area.

Work has started on the former Gap store, with gardening retailer, Dobbies, taking the space for their 'Little Dobbies' offering - a new concept to bring the store to towns and city centres.

The neighbouring space, which was previously occupied on a short-term let by Superdry, is being sub divided to better suit the changing retail model of smaller more compact units.

Toby Coombes, director of Coombes:everitt said: "It is easy to talk of the 'death of the high street' and the associated decline in occupancy. But is that necessarily a bad thing? In reality, it is an evolution of consumer tastes and behaviours, and our high street must evolve alongside it.

"Retailers don't need the space that they once did and we are seeing a trend for smaller units to complement their online offering, along with conversion of upper floors to office or residential use."

This diversification serves to both counter the drop in rents by improving income on what are primarily redundant or storage spaces on the upper floors and serves a community need by providing much needed residential space in locations to drive footfall into the town centres.

We are working with a number of different landlords and helping them to look at their buildings through new eyes and ask whether there's potential for different purposes or design and use of the space. This can generate new rental income and put money back into the maintenance pot.

Our client, the property owner has been particularly proactive in revaluating their property to maximise the space and bring life back to the area, as well as providing much needed accommodation for local people."

The Dobbies store is set to open later this month and planning has been submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council for works to the former Superdry unit. There is then a second planning application to convert the redundant upper floors of the 3 retail spaces into residential space providing 19 new apartments in a sustainable town centre location.

For more information, contact Coombes:everitt architects on 01242 807727 or email info@ce-architects.co.uk.