A HISTORIC Debenhams building in Somerset is set to have its future discussed at a meeting - and here's how you can attend.
The 84, 127 square ft former department store on North Street in Taunton has remained shut since it last operated in May 2021.
Now owned by Ropemaker Properties, many ideas have been proposed online about what the old Debenhams shop should become after it was put for sale at a guide price of £1.7 million.
READ MORE: Taunton's Debenhams on market for £1.7M after being left empty
READ MORE: 'Breakthrough' for future of Debenhams building in Taunton
A public meeting has been scheduled regarding plans for the former department store by The Curve, who are a local community association whose aim is to bring the building into mixed community use.
This meeting is planned to take place at The Friends Meeting House in Bath Place, Taunton, on Tuesday, January 13 from 6pm.
According to organisers, the core attendees will be members of the working party that Studio Saar bought together following their win of the Davidson Prize 2024, but there will also be members of the community there as well.
Organisers say there has has been a lot of "interest and support" for repurposing the building as a a mix of "community space and apartments".
The current owners of the space said in July 2025 that the former Debenhams had been "left empty for too long" and that "all of us want to see it brought back into use as soon as possible."
After the old department store was put for sale, Taunton MP, Gideon Amos, has fought to reopen it in some way.
He said: "I made clear at the meeting I arranged with Ropemaker that Taunton wants to see this key building brought back into use as soon as possible.
"I’m grateful to them for looking again at all the options.
"Their decision now to market the building for sale provides a great opportunity for an investor, whether in the private or public sector or indeed a partnership working together, to bring it back to life."
Some of the former department stores across the country have been repurposed since closing, like Bristol's outlet, which was transformed into 'Shredenhams', a temporary indoor skatepark, cafe, and bar run by Campus Skateboarding.
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