Stone Town Council has urged local businesspeople who would like to trade in the town centre but who can’t afford the rents and rates to get in touch.
The council is looking at helping a number of traders to come together to take on one of the empty shops in the High Street, potentially creating an indoor market-style operation. The idea was raised at a meeting of the council on Tuesday 11th December by town councillor Harry Brunt and was backed by other members. Town clerk Les Trigg will now be looking at how the scheme could operate.
Cllr Brunt raised the idea after being approached by Stone businesswoman Kerry Dawson. Kerry would love to take on one of the empty town centre shops for her baby sling and baby clothes business, but can’t afford the rent and rates by herself. Her idea is to pool a number of local businesspeople to take on an empty building, ideally the old Victoria Wine off licence on the High Street that has been empty for years.
The lease on that shop is on the market with Louis Taylor – for £20,000 a year.
Kerry said: “I would love to open a business in the town centre but I’m put off by the rents. I know lots of local businesspeople who are in the same situation , so surely we can come together and make something work. An indoor market in the old Victoria Wine would be brilliant. It would bring something very different to Stone and offer shoppers something extra.”
Any potential scheme is very much in its infancy but the town council wants to hear from local businesspeople who are interested in getting involved and making it happen.
Call the town council on 01785 619740.
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23 comments
Edward Langdon
I looked at taking on this unit as part of a startup a few years ago, but frankly it’s not a great option despite the vintage windows. It was listed at a flat £30,000 pa when I enquired, additionally what they don’t tell you is that all three floors are included in the rateable value, which was well in excess of £15,000 pa, coupled with the fact that the entire premises needs renovation from electricians to plasterers, and you quickly realise that the landlord is not doing everything he could to lease the unit
The wooden frames on the front are expensive to maintain for what they offer, the third floor space is essentially a Poorly equipped 1 bed studio flat, the middle floor is difficult for customers to access and the sales floor isn’t really big enough to justify the huge costs associated with it.
It’s good that the agents have convinced the landlord to drop the rent, however if the quality of the premises and the rateable value remains the same, its far too risky for any business that might use a space like that to take it on.
The landlord needs to take an interest in the property to make it viable, but much with large-scale landlords in the housing market, they tend to not bother until they’re legally obliged to make changes.
I would strongly recommend accepting the presence of an empty shop rather than risking the community’s money on something like this. There are bound to be better venues for a cooperative available now and again, at a better price and in better condition.
Its unfortunate to have an empty shop unit, but unless the landlord has done or is doing something drastic to improve the quality of it, its not fair to ask the community to bear the burden of the landlord’s lack of care.
richard evans
Looking on the louis taylor web site upstairs is listed as a two bed flat and the interior was supposed to have been redone as part of the recent handover back to the landlord
Phil
I agree entirely with you, as I looked at the shop last year but when I saw how bad the building is it changed my mind.
I also contacted the landlord about just renting the ground floor area to get the rateable value down but they was not bothered about doing it.
It was properly a good thing as 5 months later the roof collapsed and flooded the downstairs!.
I do think that the shop could be a great unit and the landlord has spent money on the property this year, but the only way forward would be to split the shop into 2 ground floor units and 2first floor units, then rent the 2 flats out above.
Mr S T Rout
I am pleased to see that my idea of the old Viccy Wine shop being used as an “indoor market” type operation has come to the fore. I first aired this idea on a now defunct Stone forum many months ago and also advised Kerry Dawson (on the same forum) about going into business on her own. I also suggested that the £100k that Stone Town Council is sitting on, having raised it from the Town precept to purchase the Wharf Car-park, be used to support this idea. I had no replies then from any councillors who I know read that forum then. I can only assume that thought it was not a good idea? Now that Kerry has bought it to the attention of the Newsletter/littlebitofstone etc and it has gained the breath of publicity they have jumped on the bandwagon. If it does go ahead, I expect one of the more self-serving councillors will now claim it as their own idea!
David
I can’t find the place on Louis Taylor website – Can someone point it to me please? I’m moving back to Stone next month (after 38 years) and this sounds like a great idea. I would be happy to look into the possibility. Not just for a spot but for the place itself.
David
Info received, thank you.
Phil tylman
I went to look at this shop last year and I offered to take it on, but I only wanted the first floor for trading, after contacting Stafford council and asking them to look at reducing the rates according to the ground floor only, they told me that they could do no reduction on the rates which i found quite poor as it looks a mess and a shop open is better than a shop shut.
At 38,000 a year the rates and 20,000 a year for rent it might be good if a group of retailers got together instead of it being a market it could be a small department store, a little bit like the old toddy wood gates shop at the top end of town.
I would be very interested in renting a showroom in the shop as a kitchen and furniture shop.
Also does anyone know if all the roof has been repaired as when I looked at the roof it needed a lot of money spending on it.
Carl
why don’t the council just lower the rent in the first place? this way we might still have actual shops and not charity shops in 10 years time
Phil tylman
The rent on this shop at 20,000 is not that bad as the shop is massive but it’s the rates that put me off from renting this shop at 38,000 a year it’s just too much.
jvictor7
Hi Carl. Local councils have very little control over rents. It’s because High Street buildings are privately owned, so the owners set the rents
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Carl
ahh, i see, well surely the council could offer some kind of subsidy? i know they are skimping at the moment, but if they can develop westbridge they can do this…
Adam
Maybe Carl meant business rates. I’ve looked at this property with a view to opening a business here, and quite frankly the business rates are too high. For this property you’re looking at approx. £16,000 per year. On top of the £20,000 rent. The advert from louis taylor is a bit economical with the truth to be honest. It says the sales area is 68 sq.ms, but unfortunately the rateable value is based on the entire property inlcuding the “Extensive Stores” – 291.84 sq.ms! The only way this property will be used in the near future is if a big company comes in for it, or if its split up into a number of properties as suggested in the article.
Adam
Source: https://www.2010.voa.gov.uk/rli/en/basic/find/valuation/2010/9100070000/8432973000
jvictor7
Thanks for the info. I knew the rent was £20,000 but didn’t realise the rates were that high. You’re right, there are two options for the shop – a big national or a local enterprise like the one suggested. And how long has it been empty now? Let’s hope the town council can make something happen
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Mr S T Rout
Jamie, though time telescopes as one gets older, I would guestimate that Victoria Wine left the building about ten years and it has been empty ever since, except for a brief period as a Sue Ryder charity shop.
The problem seems to me that the trading area is too big for an independent retailer and the buiding not suitable for a major operator. I suggested that the space be subdivided into smaller units for local traders and craftspeople to use on a “pop-u” basis so that they were not faced with the huge costs of setting up a business from scratch. This seems to have been a successful model in other parts of the country, why not in Stone.
Phil
I think that it could work, and I would be very interested in renting a unit,
I make handmade furniture and kitchens, we also have handmade homeware, and hand painted clocks from Thomas Kent.
I could set one kitchen as a full working kitchen and have a guest chief maybe from one of the local restaurants to cook on the stone farmers market Saturday .
Jon Cook
Hi Phil, are you listed on the free business directory? https://directory.alittlebitofstone.com/
We might be looking for some bespoke furniture next year so it would be handy to be easily able to locate suitable local companies.
Phil
hi Jon
I will put the business on the directory, and yes please come and see me when you need the furniture.
Thanks
Phil
Jeanette of Yarngathering
I don’t think a indoor market in the traditional sense ie cheap toiletries, socks, etc would be the way to go as other markets are struggling to keep traders and rents are not cheap. Look at Stafford indoor market….But Stone and surrounding areas has a wealth of creative talent so maybe an indoor area of small units for ‘makers’ to create and sell from. A co- operative? A feasibility study would need to be performed…how many makers could operate there, how many would want to, what would the rents work out to for each individual business. Maybe using some space as a area for ‘ pop up shops/shows/ displays? Keep it unique, make Stone unique, we are after all living in the Creative County!!
Librium Games
Hmmm, yes, I might be interested in having a display area or booth if it goes down the locally produced route!
jvictor7
Make sure you call the town council and get involved 🙂
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jvictor7
I totally agree Jeanette. I think ‘indoor market’ is the wrong term and perhaps I shouldn’t have used that. A co-operative is what they’re looking at I think. If it could be something like you set out it would be a major boost for the town centre
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David
Exactly what i was thinking after I read about the original idea. Not a “market” but a place where unique, good quality, hand made items could be obtained from people who produce them themselves and have regular demos and show cases to draw additional interest in.