First clues emerge over future of BHS site
PART of the former British Home Stores (BHS) site in Bridge Street, Stratford-upon-Avon could become two restaurants and a hotel.
Hermes Investment Management, the finance company which now owns the BHS building told the Herald on a recent site visit that two restaurants at the front of the more modern part of the building facing Bridge Street and a hotel to the rear of the property overlooking Guild Street are proposed.
Stephen Ellis, senior asset manager at Hermes Investment Management said; “There are plans to sub divide the front of the building in to three units. We know two restaurants are definitely interested in two of the units but the third remains empty. There are also plans to incorporate a hotel to the rear of the building. The main structure of the building adjacent to Bridge Street is listed so that’s a more detailed project.”
When Mr Ellis was asked what type of restaurants were involved or if they were part of a national chain or if Stratford already had these restaurants in another part of town, he declined to offer any information as the matter was as he described it, “confidential.” There was also no news on a potential hotel operator either.
He would not be drawn on project costs or any financial figures relating to the incorporation of two restaurants and the hotel except to say “considerable costs were involved.”
“We are working together with Stratford District Council but these things take time and even if two new retailers occupied the former BHS site by Christmas it’s not certain they would be operational until next year,” Mr Ellis said.
The next step for the BHS site which has lain empty for two years next month, is the ongoing assessment of the site. In total 12 reports need to be completed before a planning application is submitted to Stratford District Council. The reports cover an important range of issues including structural, ecological, archaeological and heritage considerations. The whole process could take 11 weeks to clear the necessary planning hurdles.
