Question 6: Do you agree with the proposed approach to maintaining a prosperous retail centre? Please explain your answer.

Support

Representation ID: 1939

Received: 08/02/2016

Respondent: Essex Chambers of Commerce

Agree with the proposed approach to maintaining a prosperous retail centre

Comment

Representation ID: 1965

Received: 09/02/2016

Respondent: Mr Jason Pilley

I would like to make the comment that attempting to move shops out of the High Street towards outlying areas of the town would be a bad idea on many levels. For one thing it would increase people's reliance on cars, which isn't just environmentally unsound but is also an example of poor land-use planning, we ought to be making it easier for people to get to shops, not harder; we ought to be building up a strong central community, not dissipating it.

Comment

Representation ID: 1966

Received: 09/02/2016

Respondent: Mr Jason Pilley

The character and soul and reputation of towns and cities is determined by their centre, not by their outskirts. A High Street full of pawn shops and cheapo stores and closed-down restaurants won't be doing anyone any favours.

Comment

Representation ID: 1995

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

Maintaining a prosperous retail centre begs the question as to how prosperity is measured. Does the retail turnover statistics for the centre show a level of prosperity that is considered adequate since the policy options seek only to maintain the current prosperity not improve or enhance it? Anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise with vast sums of disposable income from Southend residents increasingly spent at Bluewater, Lakeside, Westfield and even Chelmsford as Southend has slowly declined with many poor quality, here today gone tomorrow, shops.

Comment

Representation ID: 2044

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Based on various research and commissioned reports there is substantive evidence to indicate that the High Street is mainly singular, and due to change in customer expectations and behaviour the type of High Street is no longer viable.

Comment

Representation ID: 2045

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Support the Council's view that spatially the High Street and connections to the seafront are an inappropriate configuration for regeneration and commercial vitality.

Support

Representation ID: 2046

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Support idea of the Central Seafront Area achieving a compact defined prime retail core in the Town Centre with a mixture of uses and peripheral areas made over to complimentary uses and in particular support the intensification of the growth of housing in the Central Area.

Support

Representation ID: 2059

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Recognise the importance of the Town Centre in viability and vitality terms and the need to enhance the existing markets where appropriate and introduce and create new markets.

Comment

Representation ID: 2062

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

High Streets Adapting for Change (RICS) introduces the Governments recognition that our High Streets have to offer something new and different that neither the shopping centres nor the internet can match. They need to offer an experience that goes beyond retail and they need to be a destination for the socialising culture, health, well being, creativity and learning. Offices alongside shops, alongside housing, alongside eateries.

Comment

Representation ID: 2065

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Changes in consumer behaviour, the growth in car ownership and its impact on accessibility of in and out of Town Centre shopping are reasonably well understood. This is particularly likely to be an issue should the Council grant the Fossetts Farm application to subsequently increase a retail offer in an out of town centre location.

Comment

Representation ID: 2067

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

The growth of out of town shopping centre has been widely blamed for Town Centre decline and planning policies have attempted to restrict this growth, which the Stockvale Group wish to see reflected in the Council's determination of planning applications at Fossetts Farm. (The outcome of Planning Applications for extensive retail at Fossetts Farm will determine the value of the Council progressing the SCAAP process. If Fossetts Farm retail development is approved the Stockvale Group feel the SCAAPs aspirations will be undeliverable.

Comment

Representation ID: 2071

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Support the Council in their aspiration to (i) improve Competitive Performance (ii) Reduce the cost base (iii) Diversify away from retail uses (iv) grow the local economy and/or population, which is a strong theme in the preferred option principle.
Recognise that the High Street should be a social place that makes creative use of public space with a vibrant evening economy.

Comment

Representation ID: 2073

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Given that there is a shortage of housing and surplus retail property, there is no doubt that conversion to residential use should form part of the future of the Town Centre.

Comment

Representation ID: 2075

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

SCAAP should be seeking diversification of some of the retail uses on the ground floor as conversion to residential uses, providing attractive exit strategies for the asset managers and investors. This needs careful consideration in terms of how spatially to organise the retail uses

Comment

Representation ID: 2077

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Many of our High Streets have been shaped by their past; however they are now trapped in their current configurations and often in poor shape to face the future. In relation to Southend on Sea, this is certainly the case. The High Street in particular has a linearity with no social space for congregation, interaction and the alternative commercial uses that would reactivate these spaces such as cafes, coffee shops, office space and importantly a high intensification of residential uses both at ground level and above The SCAAP and the Stockvale Group recognise that the High Street in particular requires a restructuring on a significant scale.

Comment

Representation ID: 2145

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Based on various research and commissioned reports there is substantive evidence to indicate that the High Street is mainly a singular and due to change in customer expectations and behaviour the type of High Street is no longer viable.

Comment

Representation ID: 2146

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Based on various research and commissioned reports there is substantive evidence to indicate that the High Street is mainly a singular and due to change in customer expectations and behaviour the type of High Street is no longer viable.
Support the Council's view that spatially the High Street and connections to the seafront are an inappropriate configuration for regeneration and commercial vitality.

Support

Representation ID: 2148

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support idea of the Central Seafront Area achieving a compact defined prime retail core in the Town Centre with a mixture of uses and peripheral areas made over to complimentary uses and in particular support the intensification of the growth of housing in the Central Area

Support

Representation ID: 2161

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Recognise the importance of the Town Centre in viability and vitality terms and the need to enhance the existing markets where appropriate and introduce and create new markets

Comment

Representation ID: 2164

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

High Streets Adapting for Change (RICS) introduces the Governments recognition that our High Streets have to offer something new and different that neither the shopping centres nor the internet can match. They need to offer an experience that goes beyond retail and they need to be a destination for the socialising culture, health, well being, creativity and learning. Offices alongside shops, alongside housing, alongside eateries.

Comment

Representation ID: 2167

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Changes in consumer behaviour, the growth in car ownership and its impact on accessibility of in and out of Town Centre shopping are reasonably well understood. This is particularly likely to be an issue should the Council grant the Fossetts Farm application to subsequently increase a retail offer in an out of town centre location.

Comment

Representation ID: 2169

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

The growth of out of town shopping centre has been widely blamed for Town Centre decline and planning policies have attempted to restrict this growth, which the Stockvale Group wish to see reflected in the Council's determination of planning applications at Fossetts Farm. (The outcome of Planning Applications for extensive retail at Fossetts Farm will determine the value of the Council progressing the SCAAP process. If Fossetts Farm retail development is approved the Stockvale Group feel the SCAAPs aspirations will be undeliverable).

Support

Representation ID: 2173

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support the Council in their aspiration to (i) improve Competitive Performance (ii) Reduce the cost base (iii) Diversify away from retail uses (iv) grow the local economy and/or population, which is a strong theme in the preferred option principle.
Recognises that the High Street should be a social place that makes creative use of public space with a vibrant evening economy

Comment

Representation ID: 2175

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Given that there is a shortage of housing and surplus retail property, there is no doubt that conversion to residential use should form part of the future of the Town Centre.

Comment

Representation ID: 2177

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

SCAAP should be seeking diversification of some of the retail uses on the ground floor as conversion to residential uses, providing attractive exit strategies for the asset managers and investors. This needs careful consideration in terms of how spatially to organise the retail use.

Comment

Representation ID: 2179

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Many of our High Streets have been shaped by their past, however they are now trapped in their current configurations and often in poor shape to face the future. In relation to Southend on Sea, this is certainly the case. The High Street in particular has a linearity with no social space for congregation, interaction and the alternative commercial uses that would reactivate these spaces such as cafes, coffee shops, office space and importantly a high intensification of residential uses both at ground level and above. The SCAAP and the Stockvale Group recognise that the High Street in particular requires a restructuring on a significant scale.

Comment

Representation ID: 2244

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Retail provision achieved 82% top score high priority.

Comment

Representation ID: 2261

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Whilst the BID do not object or have any particular concern regarding the moving of the Southend Football Club the move is predicted on the suggested development requirement to combine a significant number of retail outlets. This is being presented as a financial necessity to allow the Club to move to new premises, however, if this is supported many if not all the High Street chains are likely to follow.

Object

Representation ID: 2263

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

In relation to the Fossetts Farm development. Proposals to have a large quantum of A1 retail provision would have a major impact on the Town Centre which is highly likely to lead to a further decline of an already struggling retail offer within the High Street and surrounding environs. Furthermore, the highway connection and infrastructure would not support the level of traffic journeys that the proposals at Roots Hall are likely to generate.
The BID would ask that the Council ensure that in accordance with advice in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) a sequential test is undertaken and would like to be informed of the conclusions in relation to the impact on the vitality and viability of the Town Centre. The BID are rightly concerned that the Fossetts Farm proposals will have negative impact on the future of the High Street and the existing retail economy of the SCAAP area.

Support

Representation ID: 2300

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Indigo Planning

Agent: Royals Shopping Centre

Valad (Europe) largely agree to the proposed approach to maintaining a prosperous retail centre, however , a number of amendments are suggested: