Bristol's empty department stores find new life, but our report shows that meanwhile use needs stronger foundations
Bristol, UK: Our latest tour report looks at two former Broadmead department stores that have been transformed by community-led groups.
Don't Waste Buildings has published a report on its 17 September 2026 Bristol tour of two large retail buildings in temporary use.
Sparks is in the former Marks & Spencer store. Artspace Lifespace and the Global Goals Centre run it as a creative and sustainability hub. It was built almost entirely from donated and reclaimed materials. Micro-traders and artists share risk and support each other through monthly licences.
Shredenhams is in the former Debenhams store. Campus Skateboarding CIC runs it as an indoor skatepark, venue and youth facility. The group built it with reclaimed materials and used skateboarding as a way to do youth work.
The tour showed what small social enterprises can achieve with a good idea, a tenacious team and very limited resources. It also showed how much these projects rely on the goodwill and resilience of their operators. Both groups face short-term insecurity, dilapidated buildings and a heavy administrative burden.
The report recommends:
toolkits and mentoring for grassroots groups
lease terms of at least two to three years
reinvestment of landlords' savings in building maintenance
a guardianship fee for temporary occupiers
a more active facilitating role for local councils
Download the full report (PDF)