Market Square development plans include kiosk toilets
PUBLICLY-ACCESSIBLE toilets could open in Market Square as part of further proposed development of the buildings.
McAulay Ltd has submitted several planning applications for alterations to the buildings including a glass awning, takeaway kiosk structure and a new retail space within Les Arcades.
The toilets planned for the basement of the Inner Street are intended for use by the customers to the takeaway kiosk planned for the outside corner of the HMV building, which will serve coffee, drinks and snack food and have adjoining al fresco seating.
There have not been toilets in Market Square since the redevelopment of the buildings, which began in 2000.
There are also plans for the colonnade areas between the arches of the market to be enclosed with glass panels similar to those in the adjacent French Halles and ‘used for high quality display only’.
According to the application, the current space ‘no longer appears to serve its purpose as a covered walkway’ and bringing forward the visual effect of the retail units in this way would ‘dramatically reduce the current situation where the retail spaces within Les Arcades can be seen to be quite divorced from the general public’.
In an application for the change of use for units 6 and 7 – the former site of Symposium restaurant – the units are described as having ‘unfortunately never traded successfully’ as a restaurant.
Since 2006 several restaurants have operated there, including UK chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
A spokesman for McAulay said:
‘The layout of the premises has proved extremely difficult for restaurateurs to successfully operate, especially during the winter months.
‘While the Market Square al fresco dining area provides additional covers during the summer months, the interior layout and restrictions to decoration of the listed tile room and restricted visible signage render the winter months as a restaurant unviable.
‘Three new restaurants in the vicinity have increased the competition for the full restaurant offering, making it even more difficult for a restaurant to operate from premises with layout and visibility issues.’
The rest of the developments, the company says, form part of plans to add a cultural experience alongside the retail.
‘We want to see more up-market retail options catering to the island’s spending preferences,’ said Brett Allen of McAulay Ltd.
‘We’re very upbeat about the state of the high street.
‘We have quite a way to go but it’s looking good, there’s not an empty shop in the whole of Town until you get to Mill Street.
‘We are enhancing the whole area and seeking to add cultural experience alongside retail offering to add attraction to the heart of the town and keep pace with the island’s shopping trends.’
