Plymouth could be getting a new restaurant or cafe in the city centre, if planning permission is granted.
The premises on New George Street, which was previously an Evans clothes shop, could now become a restaurant or cafe in the heart of the city centre.
Plans have been submitted to Plymouth City Council for a "Change of Use" request to change the site from a shop to a restaurant or cafe after the clothes shop sat empty for several months.
According to the case officer for the proposed development, the council are likely to award the planning permission and allow the premises to potentially house a new restaurant or cafe.
So what happened to Evans?
Following a disappointing year for its parent company Arcadia, Evans fashion store in Plymouth was put on the market last winter and staff were told that the outlet was to close.
The Arcadia group, which also includes Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Topman, Burton and Wallis, is run by businessman Sir Philip Green and reported a substantial dip in profits last year.
The Arcadia empire also used to own BHS, which famously collapsed into administration in 2016 and closed all 163 branches in the UK.
Plymouth's retail ups and downs...
How empty is Plymouth city centre?
Compared to a lot of cities across the UK, Plymouth city centre isn't too bad at all.
We still have a wide range of independent and chain shops, restaurants and bars in the city centre and on the Barbican, and Royal William Yard was recently named an "unmissable attraction" by Lonely Planet.
The new Barcode development (previously named 'Drake Circus Leisure') at Bretonside is going to create hundreds of jobs for local people and attract more visitors into the city, while Plymouth's £40 million new history and art centre, The Box, also in Plymouth City Centre, will attract tourists and locals alike to its giant museum and galleries.
But obviously Plymouth does have several empty shops in the city centre, with the traditional Woolworths and more modern Miss Selfridge, Zara, Internacionale and Bershka missed by local shoppers of different ages.
Alongside the empty former Evans premises on New George Street, the city also has a couple of units available to rent in Drake Circus shopping centre and multiple empty units on Mutley Plain in Mutley, Morshead Road in Crownhill and on New George Street, Cornwall Street, Mayflower Street, Union Street, North Hill and Raleigh Street in Plymouth.
What new shops, cafes and attractions does Plymouth actually have?
The most noteworthy upcoming development for Plymouth is, of course, the new Barcode development, previously known as 'Drake Circus Leisure' with its 12 screen Cineworld cinema, Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses and several restaurants.
Meanwhile, The Box history and arts centre will certainly attract thousands of visitors and residents.
As well as this, Plymouth Live reported earlier this year that the city is having two new cafes, and potentially a large retailer, in the old BHS building in the city centre.
And just last year four new businesses opened in the city centre, including a Barbecue restaurant on Cornwall Street, American-style pool hall and sports bar in Colin Campbell Court, an independent butchers in Frankfort Gate and a second-hand furniture shop in Plymouth's West End. For more about these businesses, click here.
In terms of attractions, the giant Messenger statue outside Theatre Royal Plymouth arrived late last year and has been the inspiration for many quirky posts on social media and conversations among shoppers and theatre-goers in the city, while the annual Fireworks Championships causes a buzz of excitement every year.
The city centre has just seen the opening of Plymouth's first Board Game cafe and planners continue to approve developments across the area, including a much-needed new Aldi supermarket in Plympton.
Union Rooms bar and restaurant, Walkabout bar and Popworld bar and nightclub have all also had major developments over the summer.
Plymouth is gradually transforming into a more modern city with a variety of activities to do for young and old.
What do you love about Plymouth and what do you think we need in the city centre?
Let us know in the comments.
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