A Sheffield city centre shopping precinct is seething after Argos announced it will shut up its commercial property on the Moor in January.
The Moor was once the beating heart of the city’s retail scene, nowadays the evidence of the Moor’s decline is there for all to see.
A spokesman for commercial property, Argos said: “Argos will be closing its Sheffield Moor store on 20 January 2012.”
“The business has decided the four other Sheffield-based stores sufficiently serve customers in the area, making a fifth surplus to requirements.”
They further added: “The four other Sheffield stores are located in Angel Street, Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Kilner Way Retail Park and Crystal Peaks Retail Park.” Argos is exploring alternative work opportunities for the affected Sheffield Moor employees where possible.”
Ronald Phillips, Director of Ashcroft, the asset and development appointed to oversee the development on The Moor, acknowledged the commercial property closure was yet another blow for the shopping precinct. But he remains optimistic about the area’s future.
He said: “This is indicative of the current challenging retail climate that is having an effect in all our towns and cities and a further indictment in the way The Moor has been allowed to deteriorate over the last decade.”
He further added: “It means the plans we have to radically upgrade The Moor’s environment are even more crucial to adding to the retail offer in Sheffield.”
A total of eight large commercial property units stand empty on the once famous shopping strip-another two are being used as temporary Christmas shops, and there is a giant hole where a row of shops once stood.
A new market is set to stand here, however, traders who are set to move in as soon as the commercial property building work is completed, fear the regeneration will never happen.
Scarf, gloves and hat seller William Glover is one of the few remaining independent traders left on The Moor. Standing on his stall surrounded by retail chains like BetFred and Greggs Bakery, he looks a concerned man.
He commented: “Trade is terrible. Footfall is non-existent and at an all-time low. And this is Christmas. There are empty shops everywhere. Part of the problem is parking; people go to Meadowhall and park for free.”
He further added: “We traders would happily pay a pound or two more on our rents if free was introduced.”
A trader from Smith and Tissington’s Fish and Poultry, Paul Tissington, said: “Since the Sheaf Market closed there have been 12 different planning applications to move the market onto the Moor and not one has come to anything. The longer this goes on the less likely it is to happen.”
He further added: “Where is the money going to come from in this day and age?”
Planning approval was granted in October by Sheffield Council to the Scottish Widows Investment Partnership Property Trust for a new retail unit at the top of The Moor.
Scottish Widows plans to renovate the area with a new 55,000 sq. ft. commercial property retail block at the junction with Furnival Gate.
Scottish Widows says the project will form part of the first phase of rejuvenating the whole of The Moor, following Sheffield Council’s earlier planning approval for the new 200 stall Market Hall and six commercial property retail units at the other end of the street, which will start next year.
Together with the new markets, there is now planning consent for over 150,000 sq. ft. of modern retail units and better-quality public spaces throughout The Moor area.
Mr Phillips said: “The new building, opposite Debenhams, contains space for one large retail unit spanning three floors and two medium sized retail units featuring modern high spec space for retailers demand.”
He further commented: “The new vision for The Moor means regeneration from top to bottom and is the first major retail development to happen in Sheffield city centre for many years.”
However, the closure of shops can also be seen along Charles Street and Cambridge Street with further commercial property retail units standing empty, with their windows being used as exhibition space.
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