A deserted Bristol shopping centre has been called the 'saddest in the UK'. A recent report from The Sun suggested that St Catherine's Place, in Bedminster, is a 'ghost town'.
It comes after Bristol Live reported that the South Bristol shopping centre has seen a long and slow decline over the past decade or two. After Iceland closed at the start of March this year, only Farm Foods remains in the shopping centre located on East Street.
St Catherine's Place used to be home to outlets such as The Works, Shoe Zone and the British Heart Foundation. There was also an independent florist and café.
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Sadly, by 2018, there were just six shops left. This depressing figure dropped to three in 2020 before further cuts this year left Farm Foods as the only store remaining.
As well as the lack of shops, graffiti covers the walls and roof of the shopping centre. Meanwhile, old wires hang from the ceiling and bird poo coats the floor.
Now, the future of the shopping centre remains in doubt. Plans to build a cinema were declined while there are currently faltering proposals in place to refurbish it.
These plans include building a block of flats next to the shopping centre and to turn it into a bustling thoroughfare from the new Bedminster Green regeneration area to East Street. However, while planning permission has been granted, nothing has happened in the last two years.
A spokesperson for developer Firmstone said: "St Catherine’s Place will play a key role in the regeneration of East Street, Bedminster. We have a vision to revitalise this neglected part of Bedminster by building new homes, creating vibrant new public spaces and frontages, and promoting a more positive future for the local residents."
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