Gateway Building Shopfront Restorations Revitalise Bedford High Street
The high quality restoration of shopfronts on a gateway building in Bedford has attracted new businesses and is helping to revitalise the area.
The ambition
The project was part of the Bedford High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ). It aimed to restore 4 shopfronts at 58 High Street in Bedford and bring the empty retail spaces there back into use. This would add to improvements to the square just in front of the building, made through government Town Deal funding and other work planned in the surrounding area by Bedford Borough Council.
Three of the retail units had been vacant long-term in this prominent building. The project planned for 2 of the vacant units to be split into multiple spaces, if needed, to make them more accessible to smaller businesses.
Who made it happen
The Bedford HSHAZ was a partnership scheme led by Bedford Borough Council and supported by Historic England.
This project was private sector led. The contractors worked closely with the Bedford Borough Council team to create a high quality scheme that reflected the recent public realm improvements made to the square in front of the building.
These case study details were provided by Bedford Borough Council.
Funding sources
The overall cost was £450,000, broken down as follows:
- Historic England HSHAZ grant: £107,165
- Bedford Borough Council HSHAZ grant: £292,835
- Private owner investment: £50,000
The owner had already invested significantly in the upper floors of the building. The project team saw the building's potential and put forward an additional funding proposal to the HSHAZ Board. Due to the prominence and potential of the building, the board agreed a larger than usual grant contribution to ensure the works were undertaken and to the standard desired. Without that crucial support from the board, the scheme would not have been delivered and the town would have a poor quality building in an area that has seen significant improvements.
The results
The scheme has been an incredible success. Now that the shopfronts have been restored to a high quality, new businesses have moved into all 4 units: dessert parlour Sundaes Gelato, patisserie and bakery Maison Le Vôtre, specialist house plant shop Not Another Jungle, and professional stylist Dom’s Hair Design.
The owners of Not Another Jungle and Maison Le Vôtre were quoted in news interviews that they would not have considered Bedford were it not for the HSHAZ scheme renovation works:
- Maison le Vôtre new premises on the renovated High Street
- Not Another Jungle opens premises on Bedford High Street
Two of the retail units were designed to be split, if needed, to make them more accessible to smaller businesses. Although this was not necessary to find tenants this time, it gives the retail spaces more flexibility for the future.
Future plans
These shopfronts are on a gateway building in a prominent pedestrian area, and the high-quality restorations will bring a lasting visual improvement for Bedford’s residents and visitors.
Bedford Borough Council has plans for further improvements to the surrounding area. These plans, including the redevelopment of a vacant Debenhams building opposite, will complement the HSHAZ works and contribute to making the whole area a thriving hub for residents and businesses.
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