Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015

Support

Representation ID: 2070

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: 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.

Support

Representation ID: 2072

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: 2074

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

Object

Representation ID: 2076

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

RICS paper 'High Streets Adapting for Change' discusses parking changes and out of town retail which provides free parking. Since 2007 many local authorities have increased parking charges significantly. In the SCAAP area this is a key issue which requires essential review. This is in contrast to the smaller districts of wider Southend on Sea, Leigh and Southchurch where the Council have extended free parking to 2 hours. Compared to Central Southend and the SCAAP area where parking for 2 hours is in excess of £3.30. In Stockvale Group's view this is a deterrent for people coming into Southend particularly for shopping. This combined with the poor spatial and environmental quality is a contributing factor to the decline of Southend's Town Centre.

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: 2078

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: 2079

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Stockvale Group

Both the Council and Stockvale Group recognise the need to diversify the uses within the Central Area and indeed cite the success of London Road eateries. However, this needs to have some further consideration in relation to pedestrianising the stub-end of London Road, introducing a series of stalls that would allow for street food to further define this zone as a place that people come to enjoy, to eat, to meet and to use the cinema, which would include a reconfiguration and animation around Victoria Circus bleeding across into the northern end of the High Street.