The redevelopment of the Glovers Walk site in Yeovil town centre may not be completed until 2030, according to Somerset Council. The council acquired the vacant shopping centre on Middle Street in September 2024, utilising £2.7m from the government's future high streets fund.
Demolition work on the site is now escalating, with a new temporary green space expected to be established by autumn. However, the council has cautioned that any long-term regeneration of the site, such as the construction of new flats or commercial spaces, could take up to five years to materialise.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service was granted a behind-the-scenes tour of the former shopping centre as the demolition work entered its main phase. Contractor Walters has spent recent months disconnecting utilities within the site, including water, gas and electricity, and removing potentially harmful materials like asbestos.
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Between now and the end of summer, the contractors will dismantle the remaining structure, clearing the site for its interim use as a new publicly accessible green space.
Yeovil's bus station, including its facilities and passenger waiting area, will continue to operate during the demolition process. The council has recently initiated a feasibility study for potential enhancements to the site as part of its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
Councillor Mike Rigby, who is responsible for economic development, planning and assets, commented: "We're building on the Yeovil Refresh, which I'm really pleased with – this is the next phase of that.
"The buildings have become incredibly tired. The council found the money to buy the site, we looked at whether or not it was viable to do anything else with it, decided that it wasn't, and so here we are now bringing it down.
"I think that gives us an opportunity to find a really good redevelopment proposal for this site, but we want to hear from the people of Yeovil what they think and they want to see on this site in the short term and then in the longer term."
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Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil, told the LDRS: "This has been quite untidy for quite a while now, we've had quite a lot of anti-social behaviour in the area, and this will help relieve some of that.
"My office has seen less reports of anti-social behaviour and drug use in this area because it's been shut off.
"What I'm looking forward to is having the temporary use, which is a green space – and well before I was elected as an MP, I did say that if we were to do this, it should be a green space which will tie in with the amphitheatre.
"Maybe we could look at doing Christmas markets or other markets, bringing traders back into the heart of Yeovil again – but it's really important to have that green space in the centre of town."
The demolition work is expected to conclude by the end of summer, allowing for the green space to be sown and landscape by September.
Mr Rigby said it would take several years after this date for any long-term proposals to see the light of day.
He said: "We think that the interim use might be something that lasts for perhaps between one and three years, so the longer term plan will follow after that.
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"It's a big site, and it'll take a couple of years to build out, so I think that for longer term use, people should see that being in place from about year five onwards."
The council has already been working with groups Love Yeovil and Yeovil Art Space to gather views and ideas about the short- to medium-term use of the site prior to its redevelopment.
Mr Dance, who also represents the South Petherton and Islemoor division on the council, commented: "It depends what that long-term use is going to be, but for me, I'm really looking forward to having a use for this site which can be used.
"Wouldn't it be great to get off the bus and be able to walk through a nice green area and walk up through town?"
"For me, actually, I'm very much looking forward to this temporary space, and if it lasts longer than needed, that's also a positive in my eyes."
Residents of Yeovil have faced significant disruption since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic as various aspects of the Yeovil Refresh have been implemented – with work still ongoing on the new active travel links on the road connecting with Middle Street.
Mr Rigby expressed his confidence that any disruption caused by the demolition work could be minimised, and extended his gratitude to local businesses for their patience thus far.
He stated: "I think we're very grateful to the people of Yeovil for their patience while the Refresh work has been ongoing.
"It has been difficult, we understand that. Covid made it even more difficult and the loss of the original contractor slowed things down as well – we understand that it has been inconvenient."
The council has been working on initial proposals for the site's long-term future, using funding from Homes England, and will be seeking a delivery partner to bring such a scheme forward once it has secured planning permission.
The regeneration proposals are understood to include both the Glovers Walk site and the former Wilko unit on Middle Street, which remains under council ownership.
The coming months will also see progress being made on three other sites within the town centre which have been pump-primed for development using the future high streets fund.
Acorn Homes has already begun construction of 48 new flats at the Grimsby Corner site on Wyndham Street, which secured planning permission in January 2024 and received £1,440,500 from the central government pot.
An additional £502,000 will be invested in the development of 18 flats and a refurbished commercial area at 66 Middle Street, previously known as Turquoise Kitchen restaurant. Meanwhile, £301,000 is set aside for the creation of nine flats and a commercial space at 96 Middle Street, subject to prompt planning permission approval.