Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Bedford Debenhams plan: ‘We need a reason to come into town’

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Alex Pope/BBC Alex Reader, wearing a white top and black jeans, with Lauren Steels, wearing sunglasses, a dark top with flowers on and blue jeans, standing outside Bedford's former Debenhams store, which has fencing up outside Alex Pope/BBC

Alex Reader (left) and Lauren Steels are both pleased to see that building work has already started on the old Debenhams site

Shoppers have said they hope a council’s plans for a deserted store will boost the appeal of their high street.

The mayor of Bedford has outlined plans to convert a former Debenhams – purchased by a council for about £1.8m – into smaller commercial spaces and housing.

Tom Wootton, the elected Conservative mayor, said: “It’s going make a difference to the town – it’s going to bring people in.”

Supporting the proposed redevelopment, Alex Reader, 29, from Bedford, commented: “We need a reason to come into town.”

Alex Pope/BBC Tom Wootton, the mayor of Bedford, wearing a blue suit, standing in front of doors inside the empty former Debenhams store in Bedford Alex Pope/BBC

Tom Wootton, Bedford’s mayor, said “Bedford is going to change over the next few years and I’m really excited for the future”

Mr Wootton said the short term plan was to get businesses into the space by Christmas and the long term plan was to keep the outside, knock it down inside and “build shops on the ground floor and flats and apartments above”.

He said Bedford Borough Council purchased the property, which closed in May 2021, “very cheap because it was so run down” and the money had come from “earmarked reserves” and the former government’s Towns Fund project.

“It’s a massive space, a massive part of Bedford, part of Bedford’s history, but also Bedford’s future because you cannot have this sort of size of place in the middle of the high street shut up for years.”

He said by the end of the year smaller shopping spaces would be created and he wanted anyone with ideas to “come and talk to us – we’re all ears”.

Mr Wootton said the renovation was “going to cost a lot of money” as the building was water damaged.

“We’re really keen that we get people living in town, as that’s the thing that is going to pay for this redevelopment,” he added.

Alex Pope/BBC The empty former Debenhams store in Bedford, where parts of a ceiling have fallen down, empty boxes are strewn about and electrical cables can be seen Alex Pope/BBC

The store has been deserted since May 2021 and needs renovation – parts of the ceiling have fallen down

Giving her reaction, Ms Reader, who was in the town centre, said: “I think it’s important that we start reopening these shops.

“It’s an eyesore when you just see shut doors.”

She said she would prefer to see “family-orientated” businesses, such as play areas.

Lauren Steels, 32, a mother from the town, said she wanted to see “more local stores and less chains, more of a market town look”.

“We’ve got lots of cafes and restaurants. It would be nice to have something a bit unique and bit different and something to entertain, not just shops.”

 James Mall/Simply Creative Agency. Wasem Sebi, in a black top, smiling at the camera, standing by a laptop in his business, next to a green pot plant, on Bedford High Street James Mall/Simply Creative Agency.

Wasem Sebi said he moved to his business above the Salvation Army charity shop on the High Street, after renovation work was carried out in the town

Wasem Sebi, founder of Simply Creative Agency on Bedford High Street, said: “Ensuring the right mix of retail and residential space is crucial to meet the needs of the Bedford community without over-saturating the housing sector.”

He said the plans could “transform” the area, bring “new life to the town centre” and could help create “a more dynamic and diverse urban environment”.

Mayor Tom Wootton explains the Borough Council wants to populate it with small shops.

Alex Pope/BBC The inside of the former Debenhams store in Bedford, that have showing an old Lancome stand and stairs leading down to doorsAlex Pope/BBC

Many of the beauty counters in the former Debenhams store remain

Alex Pope/BBC Kay Orton outside the former Debenhams in the centre of Bedford, pushing a bike, with a bag across her body, wearing a blue top Alex Pope/BBC

Kay Orton said at the moment there was not a reason for her to come shopping in town

Kay Orton said she rarely came into town since Marks & Spencer closed its doors in May 2019.

She said converting the empty store was “positive” but it “all depends what the shops are”.

She said more variety could coax her back to the town centre.

Alex Pope/BBC The outside of the former Debenhams store in Bedford with scaffolding up and shoppers walking past, next to a statue of two large metal faces Alex Pope/BBC

Scaffolding has been put up so the sign saying ‘Debenhams’ can be taken down

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