There is scope for niche retail, design, fashion, art, antiques and ‘lifestyle’ products within Sunniside lying within the City Centre. Fawcett Street is already a major focus of retail activity with additional retail activity extending into High Street West, St Thomas Street, Athenaeum Street and the northern end of John Street. Fawcett Street has faced competition from the Bridges shopping centre and we would like to redress the balance in shopping provision across the City Centre and activity is starting to spread.
There is already some 22,000m² of retail accommodation within the area. It is estimated there is the capacity and demand to create an additional 1,650m² of retail floor space. New retail opportunities can take advantage of the City Centre location within existing buildings on the ground floors with residential and office accommodation above or as part of new build proposals within the area.