The Sovereign Shopping Centre Weston-super-Mare set for £2 million makeover
I'm
really pleased to announce that North Somerset Council is investing up to £2m in redesigning and revitalising the Sovereign Shopping Centre in Weston-super-Mare. There will be fewer shops, more workspace, a bike hub, and even roof top events. I was interviewed on the BBC Bristol Breakfast show this morning by James Hanson, below is a link to the interview or read on for more detail.
So what's going to happen to the Sovereign Centre?
At the moment there are many empty shops. Since Marks and Spencer left it has declined. It's owned by North Somerset Council so the last thing we want is for it to loose money - this would mean that tax payers would have to subsidise it.
In the past shopping centres were really popular, a leisure activity for lots of us. However times change and the trend to internet shopping, accelerated by the Covid pandemic, has reduced footfall and resulted in shop closure. It's time to reimagine it for the future,
it needs to be place where we shop, work, and play.
The first phase has now been announced.
Funded by a £1.8m grant
the ground floor will be rejuvenated with a new space for office based workers. They will
be able to rent a small office or indeed just a desk. With more people keen to avoid long commutes and aware of the limitations of working from home all the time we hope this will prove popular.
There will also be a 'Bike Hut', funded by a £65,000 grant from the Department of Transport. Here you will be able to rent a bike or just get some repairs done. Finally we want to start running events on the roof top. Last year we trialed this, the event was sold out in 10 minutes.
Roof top events with the marvellous view of the coast would be great. Part of the grant will be used to install electric, water, and facilities needed.
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