Fisher and Donaldson South Street

Founded in 1919 and family-owned for over five generations, Fisher & Donaldson seeks to retain and strengthen its presence in the town centre through the creation of a contemporary, accessible, and sustainable premises that reflects both its heritage and future ambitions. This project involves the adaptive reuse and refurbishment of a vacant Category C listed property within the St Andrews Conservation Area into a new flagship bakery, café, and retail destination for the long-established local business Fisher & Donaldson.

The proposals aim to sensitively restore and enhance the historic character of the building while meeting the demands of a busy cafe and multifunctional space. . Works include the refurbishment of the existing street frontage, restoration and repair of existing structure, and the reorganisation of internal spaces to create a more open and inviting customer environment. A new double-height internal volume will visually connect the ground and first floors, improving orientation, daylight penetration, and the overall spatial experience.

The ground floor will accommodate bakery retail, takeaway, café seating, and customer facilities, while the upper floor will provide additional seating, an ‘F&D museum’,, staff accommodation, and storage. Core to the brief from day one was the accessibility of all facilities to all customers, new lifts alongside larger bathrooms and baby-changing areas have been accommodated throughout.

Another key aspect of the project is the landscaping of the currently inaccessible, and overgrown rear garden to create an  outdoor seating and play area. This allows the space to be given back to the public to enjoy, creating a valuable green space within the dense urban centre.

Second to accessibility and user friendly design, environmental impact has been minimised wherever possible through sustainable design decisions. This includes  thermal upgrades to the existing building, replacement glazing, improved ventilation, and roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to reduce operational carbon and improve long-term efficiency.

Fundamentally, by repurposing an underused listed building and investing in its future use, the project will make a positive contribution to the conservation area, support the local economy, and secure the long-term occupation of an important town-centre property.