One of the UK's most scarce shopping centres has just one store left and is now a shell of its former self.
The once bustling St Catherine's Place in Bedminster has slowly declined over the past 20 years. All that remains now is a solitary Farmfoods.
The number of active stores at the site were immediately halved earlier this year after an Iceland shop closed its shutters. Five years ago, there were only half a dozen stores left. Back in 2020, only three stores remained.
The future of the shopping centre remains in doubt. There are plans to refurbish it, to build a big block of flats next to it, and to turn it into a bustling thoroughfare from the new Bedminster Green regeneration area to East Street. But while planning permission was granted, it appears nothing has happened for two years, BristolLive reports.
All that remains now is empty streets surrounded by boarded-up shop windows and old posters. Despite the shopping centre having two floors, pedestrians only appeared to use the streets for getting from A to B.
Graffiti appeared on a number of shop windows and boarded-up walls. Some street art even cropped up on the centre's roof, surrounded by worn paint and dirty walls.
The main entrance to St Catherine's Place is on East Street, which is Bristol's largest retail area outside of the city centre. While it too has had years of decline, with some big names moving out - including Argos and Bonmarche - there are signs things are on the up in East Street, even while St Catherine's continues to decline.
An increasing number of independent stores and businesses are opening up in East Street, lured by the empty units, cheaper rent, council incentives and the longer-term promise of the regeneration of Bedminster. But there remain plans to refurbish, regenerate or even rebuild St Catherine's Place.
Work is already underway on huge student accommodation blocks and a 17-storey block of flats next door.
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