Restaurant planned for empty Walsall town centre shop

Linen Direct has stood empty in Park Street, the town’s main shopping area, for a number of years, with a number of efforts to let it coming to nothing.

But it is hoped that the decision to allow a change of use of the three-storey building from a retail shop to a restaurant or cafe, will now change that and bring some much-needed business to the ailing high street.

Chartered surveyor Dominic Brown, who has worked on a number of successful town centre projects in the past, said the restaurant would provide a boost to Walsall.

He said: “Walsall town centre, like a number of towns across the UK, has suffered from the challenging retail market.

“With the changing habits of consumers shopping online, coupled with retailers shifting their physical presence to out-of-town locations, the market shows no signs of improving.

Opportunity

“High profile closures within Walsall town centre such as Marks & Spencer, Poundworld and BHS has left a large amount of vacant space with no demand.

“Seeking a change of use for the subject unit will give the opportunity to target a wider variety of tenants including restaurants, which within the town centre, there is a good level of demand for.

“Ultimately this will bring much-needed activity to the High Street.

Planning agent Anthony Adler added: “The shop, most recently trading as Linens Direct, has been vacant for a number of years.

“Letting agents have advertised the unit widely and made a great effort to secure a tenant without success.

“This is due to the large size of the premises and the abundance of other vacant retail units in the area.

“Expanding the options for this unit may be helpful in securing a tenancy.

“It goes without saying that vacant stores have a dampening effect on the overall viability of the high street.

“Securing a tenant which will attract further footfall can only be beneficial.”