16.40
Object
Proposed Submission Core Strategy
Representation ID: 21232
Received: 11/11/2011
Respondent: Land Securities plc
Agent: CgMs Consulting
Legally compliant? Not specified
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
Despite the recession, latest retail forecasts show there is still a steady expenditure growth on comparison and convenience expenditure in the short/medium term.
CgMs reviewed the retail capacity identified and considered there would still be approximately £9m convenience expenditure growth and £45m of comparison expenditure growth between 2011/16. In light of major retail investments in Eastbourne and Hastings, this would further increase the attractiveness of those two centres. This would inevitably increase leakage from Bexhill.
Land Security recommends the Core Strategy recognises the need to enhance retail provision to retain Bexhill's roles and 'clawback' loss trade to other centres.
Paragraph 16.38 states that the "district-wide Shopping Assessment undertaken in 2008 identified some potential growth in Bexhill, Battle and Rye. In each case, a scale of growth is identified that would retain the town centres' roles and 'clawback' some trade lost to Hastings and Eastbourne and other centres over recent years."
Paragraph 16.39 states that the forecast growth in spending has been reviewed downwards particularly discretionary spending on comparison goods, this approach is still regarded as valid for longer time horizon retail planning forecasts.
However, the qualitative need for additional retail floorspace has been reinstated in paragraph 16.40 it states "given the overall level of retail provision in the town centre centres has remain unchanged since 2008, hence the quantitative needs are still supported in terms of qualitative needs."
Comments:
Despite the economic recession, the latest retail forecast shows that there is still a steady expenditure growth on both comparison and convenience expenditure in the short to medium term. Experian's latest forecast (Retail Planner Briefing Note 9) indicated that convenience expenditure growth at 0.5% p.a. in the period of 2012 - 2021. Comparison expenditure growth is at 2.8% p.a. in the period of 2012-2021. As a result, it is clear that there is an immediate need to meet the short and medium term demand.
As stated in paragraph 16.40, the town centre has not had any additional retail provision since 2008. CgMs reviewed the retail capacity identified by the district wide Shopping Assessment and considered that taking into consideration of the recent change of growth rates, there would still be approximately £9m convenience expenditure growth and £45m of comparison expenditure growth between 2011 to 2016. In light of the major retail investments in Eastbourne (Arndale Centre extension scheme) and Hastings town centres (Priory Quarter), this would further increase the attractiveness of those two centres. This would inevitably increase the leakage from Bexhill.
Land Security therefore recommends the Core Strategy recognises the need to enhance retail provision within the short to medium term period, in order to retain Bexhill's roles and 'clawback' loss trade to other centres.