Council to offer empty shopping centre units to start-up businesses

Empty units in Gloucester’s Eastgate Shopping Centre could soon be let out to start up businesses and community groups on a short term basis.

Gloucester City Council has unanimously backed a motion which looks to fill the empty units at the city centre mall.

The council owns the shopping centre and acknowledges that having empty units is economically unviable and unsightly.

It also gives the impression of a lack of investment, leads to a rundown environment, which in turn affects footfall.

Councillor Terry Pullen (L, Moreland), who put forward the motion at Thursday night’s council meeting, said the purchase of Eastgate Centre was a positive move.

It demonstrates a commitment to the city centre and leading by example, he told those present at North Warehouse.

“The last time I was down there in early November, there were 11 empty units. They were closed down because businesses can’t afford the rates and can’t survive with the changing pace of retail,” he said.

“It doesn’t look good. It’s a loss of income to the council, give an unsightly impression, a run down impression and could lead to a loss of footfall.”

He said he put the motion forward to allow for “meanwhile space”. This is for voluntary groups, community organisations and business start ups to use the empty units for a short time period and modest cost.

Cllr Pullen said the council was already looking at the issue and he accepted the Conservative group’s amendment. He said: “It’s far better to have these units used for the purposes I’ve talked about than being left empty.”

Deputy leader Hannah Norman (C, Quedgeley Fieldcourt) said the Tory administration is on the same page as Cllr Pullen. She explained council officers were doing a lot of work behind the scenes to let empty units on a short term basis.

“The asset management team is already working with some community groups and start up businesses to determine which units can be used for this purpose while also considering the impact of a successful levelling up bid.”

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

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