Vacant department stores present huge regeneration opportunities

The British high street has been transformed beyond recognition over the last decade, with one of the old mainstays, the department store, having all but disappeared. While its demise has created huge voids on the high street, it has also presented a huge regeneration opportunity.

Property specialists with enhanced vision and capabilities can regenerate these buildings to give them a new purpose. The key is to create a new experience and to deliver what local people really want and need. In so doing, developers will deliver the socio-economic and sustainable benefits that will enable these buildings to continue to play a key role in the future.

Restoring to a former glory

Many former department store buildings are listed or, at the very least, properties of local historical significance, meaning there are restrictions around redevelopment work. However, the vast majority of heritage assets are capable of being adapted or worked around without a loss to their significance.

Some change will be necessary to make these schemes viable again. However, the main objective when restoring these buildings is to draw on their heritage and conserve as many elements as possible.

At AM alpha, we consider the chance to refurbish these noteworthy buildings to be a privilege; a way of ensuring a new space retains its old character and can stand out from the crowd thanks to its rich history. Our Rylands scheme in Manchester (pictured) is an innovative mixed-use scheme on a former Debenhams site, and our design approach manages the changes to the heritage asset in a way that sustains and enhances its significance.

Environmental benefits

Restoring old properties rather than building new ones is better for both the economy and the environment; a win-win for the construction sector. But sustainability and feasible reuse are also key components for the protection and enhancement of heritage assets.

It is often the case with vacant listed buildings that they have been significantly undervalued and poorly maintained, so developers should look to undertake repairs that help to secure the long-term future of the property and address any permanent damage. This should be achieved using sustainable construction methods.

Our Manchester Rylands site has been planned and designed to achieve net zero carbon status. Once the renovation works are complete, we hope to achieve certification for sustainable construction according to BREEAM Excellent or Nabers 5*.

Driving socio-economic benefits

Commercial developers must also be more considerate of neighbourhoods than ever before. Former department stores offer a large opportunity to drive socio-economic improvements, but these can only be achieved by building schemes that local people are genuinely proud of and want to experience.

Ultimately, people make places and local communities must be at the heart of commercial development. With former department store buildings, people are vastly invested in the preservation of the site, meaning developers are already well on their way towards winning local support. Nevertheless, it remains imperative to build on this by delivering what communities want and need.

Restoring vacant buildings has so many benefits – they’re often quicker, more sustainable and more cost-effective to restore than knock down and rebuild. AM alpha has centred much of our recent work on regeneration because we place so much importance on the relationship between significant buildings and local communities. This is never more prevalent than with former department stores, which provide a brilliant opportunity for forward-thinking developers to create pioneering schemes fit for the future.