Deal complete as millions spent on buying and demolishing vacant Somerset shopping centre
Somerset Council has successfully completed its purchase of the Glover’s Walk site from Martin Property Group. The deal will mark the start of the final phase of Yeovil’s major programme of regeneration, the Yeovil Refresh.
As part of the Yeovil Refresh regeneration programme, South Somerset District Council (and its successor Somerset Council) attempted to bring forward disused brownfield sites within the town centre for redevelopment, including the Glovers Walk shopping centre on Middle Street and the former cattle market off the A30 Reckleford.
Now the deal to purchase the Glover's Walk site has been completed. This final phase will see the Glover’s Walk premises demolished and redeveloped to form a temporary ‘meanwhile’ use. This is to ensure that the site is utilised for positive, value-adding purposes which will contribute to the evolution of the town centre, while long term development options for the site are explored.
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The site will then be redeveloped in accordance with master planning work, which started in March funded by Homes England. This will then lead to further public consultation on plans to deliver a mixed use redevelopment on the site, including new flats and commercial space.
Cllr Mike Rigby, Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning & Assets said: “We are very pleased to finally be the new owners of Glover’s Walk and look forward to working with our neighbours ahead of works commencing on the delivery of an attractive, flexible, income generating space for Yeovil and its town centre.
"Somerset Council is determined to drive the re-imagining of our town centres. High streets across the country have been affected by the new ways in which customers buy goods and services. The regeneration of this part of Yeovil will build on the Refresh works that have been delivered over the last few years, in building a more attractive town centre.”
Gary Martin, Director at Martin Property Group commented: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of this strategic and important site in Yeovil, having worked closely with Somerset Council over the past 12 months to make this happen. As new owners, the Council is best positioned to maximise the potential of the site and its impact within Yeovil in the years ahead.”
Demolition contractor agreements are currently being finalised and further details will be announced shortly. Yeovil Bus Station will not be closing and will not be affected by plans for the Glover’s Walk site. Somerset Council will be working closely with the Bus Station owners to ensure that the station remains fully operational throughout the period of works to the Glover’s Walk site and into the future.
The demolition is expected to begin in the autumn and take up to six months to complete - during which time the pedestrian route from Yeovil bus station through the shopping centre will be closed off.
Ian Timms, project manager for the Yeovil Refresh programme, had previously said: "This project presents a major opportunity to clear this brownfield site for future uses. The demolition will enable the creation of a short-term 'meantime use' which will enable development of a longer-term plan.
"Initially some of the space will become a public open space to support this meantime activity making the area accessible to the public. This is likely to include planting and greening of the area.
"In the longer term, development plans will be needed for the site, and with the presence of other council assets such as the former Wilko building in Middle Street, this presents a wider strategic opportunity consider how this area of the town might develop. This could include increased residential space, a range of commercial and business uses, cultural space and leisure activity."
Following an agreement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Somerset Council has confirmed of how much will be spent on regenerating each of the four sites which have been earmarked within the town centre. The future high streets fund grant was originally awarded in December 2020, with the government providing a total of £9,756,897 towards the Yeovil Refresh budget (which eventually exceeded £24m through other grants and borrowing).
Of this grant, £4,784,378 was allocated for public realm improvements (including the ongoing work at The Triangle, where a new amphitheatre is being constructed) and £4,972,519 was set aside for development schemes. The four sites which will be redeveloped using this grant funding are: