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Manchester Metropolitan University . How to restructure your High Street . Deborah Peel University of Dundee Thursday, 10 July 2014. Overview: The High Street. Context for restructuring Social reconstruction of the high street State-market-civil relations & societal responsibilities.
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Manchester Metropolitan University How to restructureyour High Street Deborah Peel University of Dundee Thursday, 10 July 2014
Overview: The High Street • Context for restructuring • Social reconstruction of the high street • State-market-civil relations & societal responsibilities
Restructuring over Time Structural change in retailing Complex change Changing ideologies Mobility, wealth, consumerism Assertion of market morals - debt Policy responses / intervention
What comprises the high street? Place – Locality – Region – History – Memory – Romanticism
Planning & Governancefor the High Street • Governance always in catch-up and generally toothless • Localities too timid to resist economic restructuring and locational preferences • High streets suffer from a lack of leadership – evident in the lack of vision and joined up thinking • High streets are part of a wider societal malaise
Galashiels: “a connected town” - retail diversification (Border Railway) Stranraer: “Gateway to Scotland” Housing renewal and retail initiative (New Ferry Terminal) Scotland’s Response Presumption in favour of sustainable development – successful places - ‘town centre first principle’ = a call to central government, local authorities, communities and institutions to ‘put the health of town centres at the heart of decision-making processes’. Research to inform policy: Regional, sub-regional, larger/smaller town centres, commercial centres Inverness, Kirkaldy…. Town Centre Masterplanning Toolkit Town Centre Perception Surveys
"Town centres are the lifeblood of our communities, functioning as places of social interaction and enterprise. By diversifying our high streets we will make them even better places to live, work and socialise.“ (Nicola Sturgeon, 2013)
More than Retailing • Asserting a ‘town centre first’ principle whereby public bodies will consider how they can support town centresbefore considering development elsewhere • Working with housing providers to bring empty town centre properties back into use as affordable housing to promote town centre living • Reviewing current business rates incentivisation schemes to stimulate vibrant economies • Requiring public bodies to consider the impact of proposals to relocate services out of town centres • Broadening the appeal of town centreswith a mix of leisure, public facilities and homes • Supporting development of digital towns (External Advisory Group Report, National Review of Town CentresRecommendations, 2013)
Advocacy: ProactivePlanning • Emphasise town centre first planning policy and use of 'sequential test’ • Encourage pilot studies to try new approaches • Encourage use of compulsory purchase powers to promote sustainable economic growth • Promote Master-Planning Toolkit • Fund local authorities and community and third sector organisations to help deliver community design charrettesfocussed on town centres • Support ‘stalled spaces’ demonstration projects identifying temporary uses for sites within town centres (with Architecture and Design Scotland). (External Advisory Group Report, 2013)
Strategic Town Centre Issues: Healthcheck • Pedestrian footfall • Diversity of uses and change • Quality of built environment • Recent and proposed investment • Strategic accessibility • Attitudes and perceptions • Retailer representation and demand • Commercial yields and retail rents • Vacancy rates • Cultural and social events • Leisure and cultural facilities • Town centre residential population • Employment in the town centre • Street safety • Sense of place Vision for town centres Strategic issues • Development of town centre strategies through partnerships • Priority for town centre development over other locations • Network of town centres • Prioritisationof investment in town centres • Diversity in town centres (Strategic Review of Town Centres and Retailing in the TAYplanarea 2013)
Civil Engagement
Dundee Local Development Plan Action Programme 2014 Retail Town centres and shopping Monitor retail planning applications to ensure sequential test followed Masterplanning of specific sites • Transportation appraisals • Retailing units as part of Dundee railway station; Dundee port • Maintain Dundee City Retail booklet
Leadership and Collaboration (External Advisory Group Report, 2013)
Manchester Metropolitan University How to restructureyour High Street Deborah Peel University of Dundee Thursday, 10 July 2014