Big name brand to take up Topshop's former premises on Fargate

Topshop has left its Fargate building and has opened a new store on The Moor.

Superdrug will move into the Fargate store, from its current Chapel Walk premises, and developers are hoping to convert the floors above.

Haskoll architects say the period five storey building was used by Topshop for retail on the ground and first floors with the second and third floors as storage and staff facilities. The fourth floor has been empty for some time.

They say: "Topshop’s lease has come to an end meaning the landlord needs to renovate the building for new tenants.

"The building is too large for most retailers’ needs and modern retailers no longer tend to trade over multiple floors.

"Modern retailers’ needs, along with the declining retail market, mean that it is not feasible to let the entire building to a single retail tenant. Therefore the landlord is looking to split the building into multiple tenancies.

"A lease has been agreed for the ground floor space with Superdrug and the landlord is considering alternative uses for the upper floors."

Haskoll say a tenant for the upper floors hasn't been found yet, but they are unlikely to be retail.

"With the declining trend in physical retail, 33-35 Fargate is not deemed viable in its current configuration.

"Modern retailers do not need as much space as the whole building provides, and most retailers do not trade off multiple levels.

"The building has been underutilised for many years and has fallen into disrepair because of this, particularly at the uppermost levels.

"Therefore in order to utilise the whole building it must be split into multiple tenancies.

"The proposal retains retail at ground floor and maintains high street activity, and has a tenant ready to take the space. It also allows a non-retail tenant to utilise the unoccupied upper floors of the building."