Details have been unveiled for a near £2 million refurbishment of a former Isle of Wight department store.
The Elizabeth Pack Department Store on Cross Street, Ryde, has become home in recent years to Shademakers UK, who design, make and perform in carnivals, including last year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The clothing store closed in 2016 but the creative company has brought life back to the Grade II listed building as a workspace and more recently a venue for theatre productions.
In partnership with the Isle of Wight Council, the group has been successful in securing £1,969,458 of government funding to turn the store into a cultural venue, known as Department.
It has been described as a ‘space to dream big; create; display; perform; learn and exchange skills; and feel welcome’.
Through refurbishment, extension and alterations to the building, more creative pursuits could be followed including a performance space for dance, acting and yoga; retail booths; display areas; shared workspaces; meeting rooms; and an audio studio.
It could provide facilities for groups and individuals who usually work behind closed doors to create and learn with each other and the public, the plans say, as well as host community events.
The former cafe could also be enlarged to offer cookery classes as well as food and drink on a proposed outdoor terrace area.
The front of the building could be ‘lightly repaired’ and decorated, with new signage and numbers to ‘reintroduce’ the frontage but pay homage to the history of the building.
The ‘Packs’ sign at the top of the building could be retained as well.
The rear entrance could be refreshed and modernised to encourage people to pass through the building and see what is happening on their route to the centre of town.
Planning agents, Turner Works, say a resourceful design approach to prioritise opportunities for activity over an expensive appearance has been taken due to the limited budget.
They say the proposal has been developed to enliven and extend the creative history of the central Ryde building.
You can view the plans, 23/00641/FUL and 23/00642/LBC, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be made until May 16.
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