A section of the long-standing but now disused Crispin Shopping Centre in Street, Somerset, is scheduled for demolition in the coming weeks. This marks the beginning of a transformative redevelopment project to create a retirement community on the site.
The Crispin Shopping Centre has been a local landmark since its opening in 1979 but has seen a significant decline following the closure of the Tesco Metro store, once a key tenant.
In late May 2025, following a public inquiry, Churchill Retirement Living obtained permission to replace the shopping centre with a retirement complex that includes 45 extra care apartments and 11 retirement cottages. This plan aims to provide modern housing specifically designed for seniors.
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Aberdare Estates Ltd, the current owner of the site, submitted an application in November 2025 seeking approval to demolish the shopping centre’s entrance canopy. The approval of this application by Somerset Council now paves the way for demolition work to start, with main construction expected to commence by mid-2026.
This redevelopment is part of the broader housing strategy under Somerset Council’s revised Mendip Local Plan Part II, adopted in September 2025, which identifies the site as one of nine suitable locations for new housing.
Churchill Retirement Living’s design features a three-storey, L-shaped apartment block, complemented by two blocks of cottages situated on the northern and eastern edges of the site. Access will be primarily via Leigh Road, including a pedestrian entrance near the library. The High Street pedestrian entrance will remain in use, primarily serving as a service access.
The development will include a communal car park with 21 spaces centrally located on the site. Landscaping plans aim to create a buffer between the new homes and the existing Southside car park on Vestry Road.
The site falls within the Street conservation area, and notably, a grade II listed mural located within the shopping centre grounds will be preserved as part of the redevelopment.
Chris Hays of Sycha Development Planning, representing the developers, stated that removing the modern entrance canopy will enhance the street’s appearance and have a minor positive impact on the conservation area’s character. He emphasized that the canopy does not contribute positively to the traditional aesthetic and that its removal is justified, especially now that the centre has closed.
Somerset Council’s planning officers approved the canopy removal plans under delegated powers, bypassing the public planning committee that usually reviews major applications in the Mendip area.
Deputy leader Liz Leyshon, who represents the street division including the site, expressed her support for the demolition and redevelopment, describing the existing signage and canopy as outdated and misleading given the shopping centre’s closure.
Leyshon said, “I completely support the removal of the signage that is now completely misleading, as the shops in the former Crispin Centre have been closed for some time.”
This redevelopment promises to revitalize a declining site, providing much-needed retirement housing and enhancing the town centre’s streetscape.