One of York’s best-known shops is to get a new look – partly because it’s now too big to be sustainable.
Watkinsons Shoes would boast a new shopfront as part of a scheme to upgrade its 18th century home on Goodramgate.
Plans submitted to City of York Council would also see the retail size of the store reduced and a 20th century warehouse at the rear turned into a home.
A smaller shop would also be more efficient, planning documents say. “The long, modern extension to the rear of the building… creates a dark, tunnel-like and unappealing sales space.
“Its large floor area requires three boilers to heat it, additional staff to manage it and extensive stock levels to fill it.”
Until 1978, Grade II-listed 53 Goodramgate was home to Brown’s Bakery, famous for its fruitcake. The Preece family bought the building from Brown’s in 1978 to house their fourth Watkinsons shoe shop.
They designed and added the large window and front, which is one of the most distinctive in York. But the owners say changes are needed.
“The current shopfront was designed to match other Watkinsons shops of the time and provide a generous display area,” a planning statement says.
“However, this arrangement severely limits the internal layout of the shop and such an extensive window display is no longer required.
“The proposals are being put forward to improve the commercial viability of the site, as changes to retail trends mean that the existing footprint of the shop is excessive for a sustainable commercial premises, particularly given the limited number of access points.
“In addition to changing retail trends, maintenance of the property is becoming increasingly difficult.”
Under the plans, the modern shopfront would be removed. The new shopfront would have arched windows and a glazed door entrance.
Remodelling the entrance to make it shallower “will make views into the shop more dynamic and enticing”.
An original alleyway is incorporated into the shop, but now blocked. This route would be reopened through the double arches still visible in store.
“This will enhance flow through the building, allow customer access to the currently inaccessible historic core of the ground floor and enhance an understanding and appreciation of the building’s historic interest.”
Some of the modern structures will be removed and a single storey, flat roofed extension added.
Meanwhile the large warehouse at the rear, added by Brown’s Bakery in the 1920s and now used as part of the shoe shop, would be converted into a three-bedroom house.
On the ground floor would be a “generous open plan kitchen / living / dining room with views and access out to the new landscaped courtyard, a snug and an office / study”.
Re-establishing open courtyards on the site will improve the setting of other historic buildings, including the Grade I listed Wealden Hall behind, the documents say.
You can read and comment on the plans here.
