Shropshire Star comment: Plans for House of Fraser site must start now
The space occupied by Shrewsbury’s House of Fraser store is vast.
And yet it has been unable to meet the brief of being a profitable, must-visit, 21st century store.
That is no reflection on the people who toil for the outlet.
Rather more, it is indicative of changing retail patterns on our high streets as shops have to adapt in order to survive the threats posed by online shopping in a digital world.
Department stores in Shrewsbury, Telford and Wolverhampton once provided affordable luxury to those who wanted to make aspirational purchases.
Filled with designer names and fashionable items, they offered a window into another world.
And yet during the past two decades, the world has become smaller and the windows must larger as people have embraced virtual shopping.
Rather than drive into our town and city centres, many prefer to log onto their PC, tablet or smart phone and do their shopping from the comfort of a living room, kitchen, coffee bar or train.
Habits have changed and department stores have been too large and too unwieldy to turn around.
Like latter day Titanics, they are insufficiently nimble to avoid the oncoming dangers.
After generations of shopping, people have changed their habits and the space must now be used for something else.
It is not the first time that Shrewsbury has faced such a challenge.
Lest we forget, such large properties as the town’s jail have become available in recent times and entrepreneurial developers are ever-quick to find new uses for real estate.
It is questionable whether another department store will be able to make a go of the property in Shrewsbury.
Why would we have expectations that others would succeed where House of Fraser has no?
And so we might instead reflect on new uses for the building.
The chances of occupation by a single tenant are limited and imagination will be needed to revive that particular phoenix from the flames.
Yet there are positives.
The building is in the heart of the town, is attractive and also sits in a town that is generally vibrant.
The solution may be a boutique hotel, smaller shops or a combination of both.
It is essential however that work starts now in readiness for the closure of House of Fraser early next year.
Such a high profile building lying vacant long term would be disastrous. If is a flagship for Shrewsbury.
