News on Weston and North Somerset COVID-19 Community Recovery

New vision proposed for Weston’s Sovereign Centre

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all areas of our lives and North Somerset have just released their plans for the Sovereign Centre as part of wider planning for community led growth (see below).

Working together we can all help to ensure that Weston and North Somerset can emerge from the pandemic as a stronger, happier, healthier and more inclusive community. Click here to share your thoughts about community recovery .

New vision proposed for Weston’s Sovereign Centre

The Sovereign Shopping Centre in Weston-super-Mare is to get a new lease of life with plans to re-purpose the building.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, changing lifestyles and the increase of online shopping has had an irreversible effect on town centres and how they're used, the council is leading the way and responding to those changes to cement the future of the Sovereign Centre by creating a new plan for the building.

The new vision and business plan have been created to deliver the ambitions of the newly adopted Weston Placemaking Strategy and to promote community-led growth.

The business plan will include:

• Meeting the increased demand for workspace for creative, maker, engineering and desk-based uses

• Utilising outdoors space for young people, families and children by using outdoor and underutilised spaces including the building’s roof

• Change the name of the store, working with the local community to create a name that speaks to residents, visitors and businesses

• Repurpose unused spaces to support a thriving and growing independent retail offer which is unique to Weston

Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Business, Economy and Employment at North Somerset Council, said: “Transforming the Sovereign Centre and the role it plays in Weston is at the heart of this new plan. Repurposing vacant and underused spaces and utilising Weston's assets is key in attracting investment and footfall to the town centre throughout the week and across the years. We're responding to a very different demand for town centres and we need to offer somewhere to work, visit and live and cement the use of this building for years to come".

Should the proposal be approved, a Commissioning Plan for the appointment of consultants and contractors to undertake the works will be put out to tender shortly.

The first phase of the vision will be funded by the £1.7m Getting Building Fund awarded to the council in 2020 from WECA. Any subsequent phases will be funded by a £65k grant from the Department of Transport Access Grant.

Posted on 10th February 2021

by Sue Stone