Asset management specialist Scoop has appointed POD Architects to future-proof of The Thistles Shopping Centre in Stirling.
The centre, which was acquired in December 2020 and provides over 500,000 square feet of retail space and has a total of 90 units, has been hit by significant closures of its anchor Debenhams store, as well as the loss of Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins.
According to Property Funds World, POD Architects has been tasked with ‘creatively’ realising the reconfiguration of vacant spaces, meet operational needs and respond to the changing dynamics affecting shopping centres.
Scoop, which manages the shopping centre, is consulting with the city’s key stakeholders to identify Stirling’s main priorities and needs, and to establish how the shopping centre can best cater for the local community’s evolving requirements.
“The high-street is expected to take on a very different form post-Covid and we now have an exciting opportunity to shape the future of the Thistles,” said Mark Hewett, director at Scoop. “Future-proofing is vital to ensure primary shopping centres remain relevant and a place where people want to be – they will be about far more than just shopping. We are looking forward to evolving The Thistles Shopping Centre to ensure it remains the beating heart of the city.
“The Thistles Shopping Centre is an important asset for Stirling, and is set to provide benefits for the City and the surrounding community for generations to come.”
Paul Shedden, founder of POD Architects, also commented: “Over the years the requirements for retail, and shopping centres in particular, have changed as more and more people seek superior shopping experiences to draw them out of their homes. We aim to produce creative and exciting destinations which draw people in. We look forward to embarking on this exciting journey with Scoop.”
