Creating valuable space in key locations
Researchers at the Local Data Company (LDC) have been tracking the fate of the 124 former Debenhams stores. The retailer ceased operations in May 2021 (though the brand element was later acquired by Boohoo Group).
As of the start of 2023, 22% of former Debenhams stores had a live occupier, while 17% were set to return to the market following repurposing.
In terms of the High Street, some 26% of Debenhams units have been repurposed amid the wider shift towards a more diverse town/city centre offer. With more limited demand for large-format retail units in these locations, some stores have found alternative uses, for example as co-working spaces, housing, or food halls.
One of the boldest examples of repurposing this type of store is the University of Gloucester creating a new city centre campus from a former Debenhams.
Simon Arnott, spoke about the work his colleagues in Morgan Sindall Construction’s Central region are undertaking on the project, which sees them operating alongside the multi-disciplined design team led by ADP Architecture.
“It’s an iconic 20,000m2 building that will place the University of Gloucestershire right at the heart of its community, creating a vibrant hub of new activity in the city centre in King’s Square,” said Simon Arnott. “We started work in the summer of 2022 and are creating multi-use facility.” Aside from teaching space, the repurposed building will also include a new Wellbeing Centre, a new city library in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council and a public café. While the phased opening of the new campus is anticipated to begin in the 2023-24 academic year, the first students are set to move in from September 2024.
Shortages of laboratory space in the boom life science and biotech sector have also driven interest unexpected interest repurposing.
Maja Nesdale, of Arcadis IBI, spoke of office to lab conversions. “It’s something that came out with the pandemic, but it was an issue before Covid. There are just not enough research labs in the UK. So we’re now looking at offices into labs and there are a of schemes coming forward.”
Pictured: Selection of images courtesy of the University of Gloucestershire
