The first step in the transformation of Street's Crispin Centre is officially under way — with a bid to tear down its abandoned entrance canopy.

Aberdare Estates Ltd has submitted an application to Somerset Council (ref: PP-14482737) to demolish the steel, timber and glass structure, which once marked the gateway to the town's indoor shopping hub.

Now, most of the centre is empty, the signs point nowhere, and the canopy is little more than a relic.

Plans for a retirement community on the site were approved in May, and developers say the old entrance has to go.

They argue it's now a target for vandalism, serves no purpose, and is dragging down the High Street. Removing it, they say, will tidy up the frontage and "improve the local streetscape".

The structure sits within Street's conservation area, meaning the demolition needs formal sign-off. If approved, workers will cut the canopy away piece by piece, using handheld tools and a cherry picker, before patching up the wall behind it to stop water getting in.

The job is expected to take around two weeks, once approved — and nearby shops will stay open throughout.

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