Hopes have been expressed over the transformation of an 'empty' city area set to gain a big name fashion brand. Lister Gate in Nottingham city centre has been left barren after a series of shop closures, including Marks & Spencer Home, Boots, Shoe Zone, and WH Smith.
But now fashion retailer Flannels, owned by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, will move into the former River Island unit which was vacated last year, if new plans are approved by Nottingham City Council. The luxury clothing brand, which already has a branch in Bridlesmith Gate, sells designer brands for men, women and children, including Stone Island sweatshirts which typically cost around £200 and Balenciaga trainers for more than £600.
The shutters coming down on so many businesses in Lister Gate has been attributed to Covid and the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre's closure after the collapse of retail giant intu in 2020. But now with Covid's impact lessened and the redevelopment of the wider Broad Marsh site moving forward, some people have suggested the arrival of the high-end clothes store could mark the start of the area's revival.
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Shoppers on a notably busier Lister Gate said they were hoping the area would significant improve in the future. Allan Chapman, 84, and Jan Chapman, 77, thought more appealing shops would draw customers into Lister Gate.
"Shops like Flannels bring people into the area, encouraging other shops to come in as well. I think you do have to get quality shops, even stuff like designer clothes brands, in so that people come down this way," Mrs Chapman said.
"It's a bit like trying to expand the shops that are on Bridlesmith Gate." Mr Chapman added: "You can imagine how it would look as a lovely upmarket area rather than a empty mess. The shopping in Nottingham is not very good, it's all spaced out and there's not much here compared to other places.
"It's a lovely street with all the trees and it should be a success. It has a lot of potential."
Anne Freeman, 75, from Clifton, said: "They just have to get anything on this street. It's a good sign that Flannels want to set up here.
"All these empty shops need filling up but at the moment it wouldn't be too appealing. Maybe with a brand like that moving in others will think about being nearby."
Les Thomas, 81, from Bestwood, said: "I think it is really sad to see this street like this. It's between the city centre and train station but its a ghost town.
"Hopefully we can get more good shops down here to bring more people, which will then bring more shops, and then even more people. There's some distance to go but with a few more new shops it might start to look better."
It is unclear if the existing Flannels in Bridlesmith Gate will remain open once the new venue opens. News of Flannels' interest in the Lister Gate site first came to light last year.
But the news comes at a time when the new walkway through Broad Marsh towards Lister Gate is open. The new walkway will eventually feature views of the new 'Green Heart', called Lister Square, with a Major Oak the focal point.
While work on the redevelopment of the western side of the shopping centre has been progressing, millions of pounds in levelling up cash is sought to redevelop the rest of the site under an ambition led by leading urban designers to build 700 homes, a hotel, create a new entrance to the City of Caves and re-use the shopping centre frame.
A £20m bid was recently submitted to the Government's Levelling Up Fund by Nottingham City Council to help finance the wider transformation of the Broad Marsh site. East Midlands Chamber, which represents businesses in the region, saw the plans for the new clothing store as a sign of the area's potential.
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Flannels’ plans to open in Lister Gate signal the potential this parcel of the city centre has despite all the challenges it has faced in recent times.
“We’ve spoken a lot about the visible impact the pandemic has had directly on bricks-and-mortar retail in many cities, with Nottingham’s struggles exacerbated by interrupted development of the Broadmarsh Centre. While there is an exciting vision to revitalise the wider Broad Marsh area – which will hopefully be a step forward to realisation should Nottingham City Council be successful in its bid for Levelling Up Fund money to advance this project – in the short and medium term, we need to make the city centre more attractive to residents, workers and visitors.
“Having a major brand like Flannels move in will help in this respect, but we also believe there is an opportunity to bring in new types of small businesses on short-term leases if local authorities, landlords and the private sector can work together effectively.” The planning application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
Meanwhile, Arran Bailey, managing director of property development firm ALB Group, has been buying retail units in the area - with the vision of creating a hub of independent shops, bars and cafes in a bid to specifically make nearby Bridlesmith Gate 'cool again'.
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