High Street, Southampton

Overview

We were originally contacted for this project by a property consultant who was acting on behalf of a client. The client had purchased a commercial property in preparation to open a shop in Southampton, however instead decided to pursue the property's potential for development. Our aim was to carry out feasibility studies for the property to highlight potential uses for the building. We provided advice and preliminary designs for residential conversion and division of the ground floor space. The result of our advice and designs resulted in the division of the ground floor retail unit, shopfront alterations, and a new High Street access for more attractive access to the office space on the upper floors.

Design Approach

Our design approach for this project was initially to highlight the feasibility of different options for the client. The upper floors were office space which had remained vacant for some time. We put together preliminary designs for the change of use into residential units, which would have been a viable option under permitted development. We also included early-stage designs for the construction of additional floors over the roof.

The ground floor had been largely unused for a time, with the large footprint being difficult to let. Our proposal was to divide the ground floor to form an additional, separate retail space. Where there was previously one large (vacant) and one smaller (occupied) retail unit at ground floor, the property now offers a total of three, more equally sized, retail spaces. The designs for the shopfront needed to consider the external sloping ground level, so the new entrances were design with accessibility in mind and included ramped access.

The alterations required a planning application for the division of the retail space and shopfront alterations. An application prepared, completed, and submitted by us was approved with no alterations required to the designs.

Within the planning application, we also included a new, separate entrance to the upper floors form the High Street, to aid in making the upper floors more attractive to potential occupiers.

Outcome

By creating more flexible and commercially attractive retail spaces, the scheme improved the ground floor's lettability, all of which are currently occupied. The designs also enhanced accessibility to both ground and upper floors. By providing a standalone office entrance and new shopfronts to the ground floor resolving practical access constraints, the alterations made to the building significantly improved the overall lettability of both the retail and office spaces, aligning the building with current market expectations.

(Aerial photo from Google Maps)