Adaptive Re-Use: A Sustainable Solution for 's Shopping Centre? Dominika Slotwinski Geography BSc with Minor in Sustainability

Project Summary: This project discusses whether the method of 'adaptive re-use' for obsolescent buildings is a sustainable solution for Southampton's Bargate Shopping Centre, and how these premises could be utilised now that the establishment has closed. After the opening of the privately owned Shopping Centre in 2000 and the ongoing competition with the (opened in 1991), Bargate struggled to maintain its popularity with the general public. Its closure lead to a decline in the surrounding vicinity - Bargate East - with nothing to date being done with the vacant infrastructure. This research involved exploring the concept of 'adaptive re-use', in terms of sustainability, with primary data suggesting that a multifaceted 'indoor market' would be the most suitable adaptation for the building: socially, economically and environmentally . Research Objectives: Study Site: Bargate Shopping Centre, Above Bar Street 1. To explore the notion of 'adaptive re-use' as a sustainable solution for commercial building regeneration and apply this to the Bargate Shopping Centre in Southampton. 2. To determine a proposal for the regeneration of the Bargate Shopping Centre through qualitative and quantitative primary and secondary research analysis. 3. To evaluate this proposal in terms of sustainability, with reference to the social, ecological and environmental benefits it will bring.

Methodology: Secondary Data Analysis

Qualitative Primary Data

Legend: 1. The Bargate Shopping Centre 2. WestQuay Shopping Centre 3. The Marlands Shopping Centre 4. Debenhams 5. The Bargate Monument on Above Bar Street

Results: • The Indoor Market is the most favoured proposal by the local businesses, the Quantitative Primary Data council and the community. • The 'adaptive re-use' of the building would have to incorporate an element of the 'historical walls' as well as making use of the walk-way which will create footfall to the surrounding areas. • An indoor market would offer exciting prospects to the city of Southampton providing many functions that would address the social, economic an environmental problems exhibited in the city. Marketplaces are multifaceted, which enhances the longevity of their purpose and allows them to be continuously shaped for new and emerging practices, making them sustainable in themselves (Morales, 2011). •Markets provide many economic functions: they introduce tourism to the local economy (e.g. Camden Market), encourage business growth, as well as providing employment - in the case of an indoor market, staff may be hired to maintain and manage the building, as well as managing the merchants (Morales, 2011). • Concluding Points: People often enjoy the social interaction that markets bring, which in turn improves community relations (Alkon 2007). They can also give rise to vibrant and safe public • There are two options for the shopping centre: demolition or 'adaptive re-use'. Although places which are attractive to local residents, as it enhances quality of life and demolition and rebuild may offer some positive social and economic benefits, if it were to psychological well-being (Balkin and Mier, 2001). occur, the most likely infrastructure to be built by developers would be mixed luxury housing with retail which the local community and local businesses do not want. Additional complications such as the requirement for excavation, makes 'adaptive reuse the Further Research: increasingly more attractive and cost-effective option, alongside the other positive • As there is little literature available on the 'adaptive re-use' of commercial outcomes such as opportunity for new businesses, social cohesion and resource infrastructure, the methods used in this project could be applied to other management. geographical areas in the UK which are experiencing similar obsolescence of 'dead • Due to the planning policies in place, mixed use (including retail) of the site should be malls' or general infrastructure. implemented. It is important to offer something different from the high-end and modern establishments - i.e. WestQuay - that are already in place. The 'indoor market', was the References: most popular choice for local businesses (as it would increase footfall) and local community Alkon, A. (2007) "Growing resistance: Food, Culture and the West Oakland farmers’ market" Gastronomica: The (it would be something different), with the council also favouring the idea. The 'indoor Journal of Food and Culture 7: pp 93-94 Balkin, S. and Mier, B (2001) "Maxwell Street: Chicago Illinois. In Celebrating the third place: Inspiring stories market' would meet the retail criteria, as well as bringing social benefits to the already about the ‘‘great good places’’ at the heart of our communities", Marlowe & Co, New York deprived area by potentially offering items at lower prices, and also creating job Morales, A. (2011) "Marketplaces: Prospects for Social, Economic, and Political Development", Journal of opportunities. Planning Literature, 26:1 pp.3-17.