THERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR OUR EXPERIENCE
“I would not have believed Rainbow Rising could take on and fill 80,000 square feet at Debenhams in Wandsworth so effortlesssly. The transformation was simply stunning!”
Jane Cooper
Mayor of Wandsworth
One of ASTOP’s proudest achievements came in 2020 through our involvement with Rainbow Rising*… when Debenhams closed its flagship Southside store in Wandsworth. This prompted Savills to approach us on behalf of their client LandSec.
This project was a first on so many levels.
No organisation had ever taken on a vacant retail space of this magnitude (80,000 square feet across four floors), nor coordinated so many different charitable causes to create such an effective solution. All of this against the backdrop of a global pandemic and the worst economic crisis in a generation.
Savills knew they had to move very quickly… to enable their client to reduce costs and avoid the negative repercussions of having a vast space sit empty indefinitely in such a prime location.
Together we swiftly assembled a group of reliable charitable organisations to create an exciting indoor market of professional pop-up concessions across all floors. (The resulting ‘before and after’ transformation is visible in the ‘images below.)
A truly win-win solution, there were clear benefits for everyone, from the landlord and local businesses to the local council and general public.
The premises were relet in a record three months, at a time when the market was arguably at its most depressed… and when the other 120+ Debenhams stores remained vacant.
One core attraction of the charitable option for Savills and LandSec was the easy-to-terminate nature of the relationship… and the way in which the charities can move out with just one month’s notice.
If you want to see more examples of how we can populate and transform vast empty spaces, reduce costs, and optimise your capacity to find a suitable permanent occupier – get in touch today.
Landlord Name
Start Date
End Date
Premises Relet
“This was a huge collective success in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, which could not have been achieved without Rainbow Rising!”
Tim Leatham
Director, Savills
Take a look at what we were able to achieve when applying our Rainbow Rising solution to the Wandsworth Debenhams in 2020.
* Rainbow Rising is an initiative by the charity TUAid (Temporary Use Aid) (https://tuaid.org/) that has worked very closely with ASTOP since its inception in 2016.
The Rainbow Rising formula is completely scalable and lends itself to large-scale retail or office spaces that become vacant. Learn more here: (https://rainbowrising.org.uk/)
Whether you’re a landlord with empty space or a charitable organization seeking a home, we invite you to explore how ASTOP can help you make a positive impact on your community.
Let’s create meaningful change together. Partner with ASTOP and become a part of our mission to transform empty spaces into valuable community assets.
Image from Richmond Furniture Scheme Ethical Property Use in Action
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