University of Gloucestershire to recycle fittings from old Debenhams store
They recently announced their target to become carbon net zero by 2030
Mannequins and other fixtures which once graced Gloucester's Debeham's store are set to be put to good use.
The building is set to be refurbished into a new city centre campus for the University of Gloucestershire.
As part of their commitment to sustainibility, hundreds of mannequins, mirros, clothes rails and display cabinets are being donated to charities across the region.
The University, which recently announced plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030, is also rehoming items from the store across its various academic schools to be utilised by students and staff.
Rachel Porter, Facilities Manager (Projects) at the University, said: “As we have such a strong commitment to sustainability, we wanted to see how many items could be reused or recycled.
“We were in contact with charities, local businesses, auctioneers and local village community groups to see what could be donated for good use.
“We have managed to re-house a number of items such as mirrors, hanging rails, foot stools, mannequins, tables and curtains to these groups.
“Some community groups have taken mannequins to use on Christmas trails, scarecrow trails, Halloween and even a school allotment club!”
Where's the furniture going?
Among the organisations that will be using items from the former Debenhams building is the Furniture Recycling Project (FRP) in Gloucester.
A number of mannequins have been found important new roles in Swindon town centre, as they will be taking up their positions in the new Survivor shop when it opens later this year.
Survivor is the fundraising shop of the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service, which assists victims and survivors of domestic abuse, including providing a free and confidential 24-hour support line, 365 days of the year.
Turning the old into the new
The University announced in March that it had bought the Debenhams building – a major focal point for the community for 80 years – and intended to redevelop the existing fabric of the building to create a vibrant new campus in the heart of Gloucester.
The University’s plans took a major step forward after the Chancellor announced in last week’s Budget that Gloucester’s £20 million Levelling Up Fund Bid had been approved.
In June, the University announced that the tender to drive forward the design of the project has been won by ADP Architecture.
Once completed, the new campus will be a modern centre for teaching, learning and community partnerships, playing a vital role in both the regeneration of the city centre and supporting the University’s ambitious plans for growth.
The development is part of the wider regeneration plans for the King’s Square area, which is being transformed by Gloucester City Council.