Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015

Support

Representation ID: 2191

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support a higher intensification of residential uses in the Central Area together with a broader mix of commercial uses ranging from A1 retail, A3 restaurant café, D2 leisure and B1 offices to provide a more diverse multi-use High Street and Central Seafront.

Support

Representation ID: 2192

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support a higher intensification of residential uses in the Central Area together with a broader mix of commercial uses ranging from A1 retail, A3 restaurant café, D2 leisure and B1 offices to provide a more diverse multi-use High Street and Central Seafront.

Comment

Representation ID: 2193

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Southend's Unique Selling Point is the Seafront which is a destination of choice. The Seafront and High Street inter relate on each other for business with the major attractions of Southend relying on easy access to car parking and good access from the car parks to the High Street and the Seafront attractions by foot or public transport.

Comment

Representation ID: 2194

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Access into the Town is problematic certainly on peak days, but also in evenings when there are events on in the Town and Central Seafront. There is a view that from the Victoria Gateway junction to the Raleigh Weir on days of high visitation and sunny days the key route is completely grid locked between these two key points. This represents somewhere in the region of 3840 cars parked nose to tail across the main artery into the Town which is mainly a dual carriageway.

Comment

Representation ID: 2195

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Some members of the BID and representatives of the Seafront businesses believe that one way in which the congestion into the Town could be improved is for an additional 3840 parking spaces to be made accessible and available within close proximity to the Seafront and core High Street Area. This is due to the day visitor attraction industry, particularly family attractions such as the Seafront receiving the vast majority of its income in a few weeks of the year. These generally coincide with the school holidays. During this peak period a visitor attraction business needs to be able to accommodate every visitor that wants to visit as these peak days effectively subsidise the operation for the rest of the year.
If the access to the main attractions is limited on peak days by the availability of car parking spaces, this could and does have serious impact on the viability of the Seafront businesses. The main parking areas are generally at capacity on peak holiday periods. Any loss of capacity as a result of the SCAAP proposals would result in a cap of visitors during these peak periods. This the amount of investment within the Seafront to the current status quo. Transport and access is not just limited to the Seafront and does have a huge impact on the High Street, combined with parking tariffs, access and egress, and poor legibility around the Town Centre. Whilst the changes outlined in the SCAAP from a space and use perspective will do an awful lot to reinvigorate and regenerate the High Street, this must be inclusive of a renewed and fresh approach to parking provision within the SCAAP Area.

Comment

Representation ID: 2196

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Some members of the BID and representatives of the Seafront businesses believe that one way in which the congestion into the Town could be improved is for an additional 3840 parking spaces to be made accessible and available within close proximity to the Seafront and core High Street Area. This is due to the day visitor attraction industry, particularly family attractions such as the Seafront receiving the vast majority of its income in a few weeks of the year. These generally coincide with the school holidays. During this peak period a visitor attraction business needs to be able to accommodate every visitor that wants to visit as these peak days effectively subsidise the operation for the rest of the year.
If the access to the main attractions is limited on peak days by the availability of car parking spaces, this could and does have serious impact on the viability of the Seafront businesses. The main parking areas are generally at capacity on peak holiday periods. Any loss of capacity as a result of the SCAAP proposals would result in a cap of visitors during these peak periods. This the amount of investment within the Seafront to the current status quo. Transport and access is not just limited to the Seafront and does have a huge impact on the High Street, combined with parking tariffs, access and egress, and poor legibility around the Town Centre. Whilst the changes outlined in the SCAAP from a space and use perspective will do an awful lot to reinvigorate and regenerate the High Street, this must be inclusive of a renewed and fresh approach to parking provision within the SCAAP Area.

Support

Representation ID: 2197

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

The BID understand the concept of a much greater residential intensification of the SCAAP area and would wholeheartedly support the Councils aspirations for an additional 4000+ homes however, this must be in the context of insuring there is suitable amenity and infrastructure. The intensification together with a greater mix of uses in the Town Centre and Central Seafront create a much more buoyant and sustainable economy and the BID welcome the Councils proposals as part of the SCAAP planning document.

Support

Representation ID: 2198

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

The BID understand the concept of a much greater residential intensification of the SCAAP area and would wholeheartedly support the Councils aspirations for an additional 4000+ homes however, this must be in the context of insuring there is suitable amenity and infrastructure. The intensification together with a greater mix of uses in the Town Centre and Central Seafront create a much more buoyant and sustainable economy and the BID welcome the Councils proposals as part of the SCAAP planning document.

Comment

Representation ID: 2199

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Various improvements have been made to the Central Seafront including improved connectivity through Pier Hill and the City Beach. Whilst there has been some improvements to the landscape of the High Street, this needs a much greater consideration and linking to new development. There needs to be greater inclusion of soft landscaping and public spaces and improved connections from the High Street through to the Seafront. This is particularly the case with Seaway Development. This development site represents a great opportunity to create a gateway development and pedestrian links and improved Public Realm linked to the Seafront.
The BID would wish to see a breaking down of the linearity of the High Street and the creation of a number of destination and unique quarters. This resonates particularly through with the Tylers Avenue, London Road and Alexandra and Clarence Street opportunity sites.

Comment

Representation ID: 2200

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Various improvements have been made to the Central Seafront including improved connectivity through Pier Hill and the City Beach. Whilst there has been some improvements to the landscape of the High Street, this needs a much greater consideration and linking to new development. There needs to be greater inclusion of soft landscaping and public spaces and improved connections from the High Street through to the Seafront. This is particularly the case with Seaway Development. This development site represents a great opportunity to create a gateway development and pedestrian links and improved Public Realm linked to the Seafront.
The BID would wish to see a breaking down of the linearity of the High Street and the creation of a number of destination and unique quarters. This resonates particularly through with the Tylers Avenue, London Road and Alexandra and Clarence Street opportunity sites.