There is no doubt that high street retailing has been under considerable pressure over recent years. According to a report by PwC, last year an average of fifteen high street stores were closing down each day. As well as the current economic climate and its impact on consumer spending, high street stores have been facing tough competition from the big out of town retail parks and from online shopping.
Being the country that was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, the UK has a unique range of industrial buildings that can potentially be converted for new uses. However, this fascinating element of our built heritage can often be neglected.
In 2016, estate agents Tepilo published a study of 2,000 UK homeowners which found that 43% dream of having a custom-built property, with a setting on the coast being the most popular choice of location.
In the current economic climate, commercial property will continue to yield higher value returns than many other forms of assets. However, to take full advantage of this, the commercial architect needs to have a thorough grounding in the commercial realities of your business and the way in which you plan to generate additional turnover and profit from any new development.
In this country, we are privileged to have an extraordinary range of historic buildings, each with their own unique character and fascinating architectural heritage. Our built heritage tells the story of our nation, and brings it to life in a way that no other aspect of our culture can.
