Maintaining a cool environment is crucial for shop operations.
This becomes even more critical for retailers selling furniture – items that could suffer damage from excessive heat.
John Lewis, the national retailer operating a homeware store at Swindon's McArthur Glen designer outlet within the former Great Western Railway works, certainly recognises this necessity.
The firm has submitted plans to install its own air conditioning system within its unit in the Victorian listed structure.
John Lewis's application to Swindon Borough Council states: "The store's management team regularly struggles to maintain a constant and comfortable internal temperature within the unit's back-of-house areas for staff, with temperatures reaching uncomfortably high levels during the summer period.
"The age of the building's ventilation facilities, together with the rise and frequency of summer peak temperatures, and the presence of glazing exacerbate the high internal temperatures. Indeed, on a number of occasions, the high temperatures have meant that the store had to be closed on health and safety grounds."
The application continues: "Maintaining a consistent and comfortable temperature, as well as implementing health and safety improvements, will enhance the welfare of staff and, in turn, support the ongoing commercial success of the JLP unit, thereby contributing to the future success of Swindon as a retail destination."
Whilst the customer-facing sales floor currently enjoys a cooling system, the staff areas behind the scenes lack air-conditioning facilities. The plans to attach the system to the rear of the building are complicated due to the Grade II listed status of the Victorian site.
John Lewis' application states: "The proposed works have no impact upon layout of the store and will not materially alter the building's appearance, as the plant equipment will be discreetly located alongside existing equipment and within an existing shared plant zone area, obscured from all public views.
"No material harm upon historic fabric would result from the proposals, and the significance of the listed building and conservation area would be retained. The proposals will also not adversely impact residential amenity or surrounding uses and will enhance the overall functionality of the retail unit."
In July this year, when temperatures soared to 30 degrees Celsius, the designer outlet's own air conditioning system malfunctioned, leading to staff and customers complaining about the heat and some even feeling unwell.
A decision on the application is not anticipated before early October.
