Overhaul lined up for St Annes department store

The former home of retailer JR Taylor could be transformed into a boutique hotel, spa, restaurant and bar in a project now lodged with Fylde Council.

Locally-registered developer Corbenyah Properties, advised by architect WBD, is looking to convert the 20,000 sq ft store and 3,000 sq ft office space in a project that could see a rooftop bar added to the site.

The building sits at the corner of St Annes Square and Garden Street in the centre of the Lancashire seaside town. JR Taylor closed its doors in January 2015.

Central to the redevelopment project is glazing work including the addition of glass cladding to the corner bay and glazed balconies, along with the replacement of ground floor glazing. Canopy alterations and timber treatments are also included.

WBD said that it is seeking to retain the prevalent features of a building in an area typified by late Victorian and Edwardian frontages.

Setting out the aims for the site in its design and access statement, WBD said that the spa will be in the basement, while the ground floor will be occupied by a restaurant.

The first floor is to house medical uses and massage rooms, with the second floor to be the location for four large hotel/Airbnb self-serviced suites, to be offered to customers of the building’s other uses.

The top floor will house a rooftop bar, offering customers 360-degree views from a fully glazed space.

Corbenyah Properties is also advised by Smith & Love Planning Consultants, which is responsible for the heritage statement. The application was validated by Fylde in late July.

The building was traded in 2019. Duxburys Commercial had marketed the building at a guide price of £1m.

Department stores large and small are being prepared for conversion and redevelopment as the retail landscape continues to make the format less and less viable.

In Manchester, both Debenhams and Kendals, in an office-led project, are in the process of overhauls, while Glenbrook has taken on the former M&S store in Stockport as part of that town’s reworking of its whole retail pitch.

St Annes Rooftop Bar

Corbenyahs plans include a rooftop bar area. Credit: Reel via planning documents

Your Comments

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Very good idea for this property

By K Vaughan

Very good idea -wonderful opportunity for St Anne’s -bringing in more tourists & work -also keeping a beautiful building back to life

By Carolyn Dunn

This is the best news wishing you success
Can’t wait to see it finished and to enjoy this new venture

By Deborah Baxter

Will be marvellous to finally bring the building back to life with facilities for locals as well as for tourists.

By E. Adkins

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