DIFFICULTY finding tenants to take over an empty shop have forced the owners to find a different use for the building as developers say the face of the town centre is changing.

Next vacated its store on Regent Street in July 2014 and it has stood empty ever since despite attempts to find a new occupier.

Planning permission has now been gained to convert it into a café or restaurant.

No business has yet taken the tenancy but when they do it will become the latest in a long line of food-based establishments to set up in the town centre in recent years.

In a report to town planners, the owners of the building said significant changes in the market place mean there is still room in Swindon for businesses of that nature.

“Since the previous occupiers of the building vacated the premises, the building has been actively marketed without significant interest,” they said.

“It is recognised that the nature of retailing has gone through a sea change in recent years with an increasingly significant proportion of purchases made online.

“This is a reflection of the increasingly difficult trading environment for high street retail, when one of the biggest names in fashion retail is unable to make a store like this financially viable and highlights the need to take a creative view of the high street.

“In order to deliver a more marketable proposition for this large city centre building the owners are seeking to extend the possible range of uses.”

Evidence elsewhere seems to support this view, with numerous other food-based developments either opening or in the pipeline.

Last year, several new restaurants, including Nando’s and ask, opened at Regent Circus while a planning application has been submitted to demolish the tented marked and build five eating establishments.

On top of that, the owners of the Brunel Shopping Centre have also been given planning permission to convert a number of shops on Canal Walk into restaurants, in a project known as The Crossing.

Bernard Ferris, the head of retail property at the Brunel, said the town centres needed to offer more than just retail to attract people.

He said: “A lot of major cities have undergone major redevelopment in recent years but when you look at it this has been mostly leisure led.

“There are empty units in the town so bringing in an alternative leisure option gives people a reason to come into the town.”

But plans to demolish the tented market have been met with opposition from tenants, who have said it is important the town centre keeps a market.

Jo Heavens, owner of the Emporium of Lovliness, said: “Swindon has 90 food outlets in the town centre, we counted them, and another 24 vacant food outlet premises including the proposed Food Hub in the Brunel Centre.

“Swindon doesn’t need any more restaurants.”