The Poundstretcher shop on Fishponds Road is a classic example of 1960's high street development: grey, boxy, featureless and uncomfortable with its surroundings. The proposals are for a bold conversion of the first floor and extension at roof level to create twelve flats above the shop. The flats are arranged around communal terraces and a central lightwell which opens up the first floor level to the sky. The flats at roof level are set back and the windows arranged to minimise the overlooking of adjacent properties. The back of the existing building is overclad with insulated render contrasting with lightweight zinc roof extensions. The long and unrelieved west elevation is broken up by a series of colours and planes as well as by planting grown up the building. The south elevation onto the High Street is transformed by the overcladding of the original perforated concrete panels with grey/buff render to blend with the stonework of the neighbouring buildings and divided into bays to pick up the rhythm of the adjacent buildings. This is a valuable opportunity to establish mixed use on the suburban high street and to rework an unsympathetic block to fit more easily with its neighbours. The decision to keep and adapt the existing building rather than to demolish it and redevelop makes the project fundamentally sustainable.