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Big name shops seen as vital in halting decline of town centre
IF Halifax does not get more big-name shops soon it will die, a leading councillor said.
The stark warning comes on the back of an independent report showing that towns and cities where there is new shopping development are capturing shoppers from towns and cities which don’t.
The National Survey of Local Shopping Patterns is produced by leading commercial property and real estate services advisers, CB Richard Ellis.
The report says that: “shopping destinations are likely to increase in popularity if the retail offering is improved through new development or the addition of leading brands.
“Conversely, where no improvements occur, or there is an actual decline in the quality of shopping – usually through the withdrawal of key high-volume retailers – the market share achieved tends to decline.”
“Towns with development are diverting trade from towns without; however, this is more of a diversion from old shopping stock to new, and from small space to big, rather than a diversion from town centre to out-of-town retail destinations.”
Leeds city centre, Huddersfield, Bradford and the White Rose centre in Leeds are identified in the report as the main venues attracting people away from shopping in Halifax.
But it shows that people are even choosing smaller centres, such as Keighley, for shopping trips.
The report estimates that there are a total of just under 1.5 million people in the Halifax shopping catchment area, which is bordered by Leeds in the east and Rochdale and Oldham in the west.
It shows that Halifax attracts just over 95,000 shoppers – just 6.4 per cent of the total number living in the area.
Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for economy and environment, Coun Barry Collins said: “There is no running away from this report. It underlines the urgent need for us to develop the Northgate site, if Halifax is to remain a thriving town where people want to visit and shop.
“Halifax is losing huge numbers of shoppers to towns and city centres close by. The future of the town is now in our hands. Unless we make it possible for big-name retailers to locate in Halifax by providing large enough sites, other towns and cities will attract shoppers away from our town.
“We have a choice. We can do all we can to maintain a vibrant and attractive town centre, or we can do nothing and watch it sink into decline with the resultant loss of businesses and jobs.
“The council is already committed to moving out of Northgate House and we have proposals which would see the site made available for retail development.
“But it is essential that we create the right conditions to attract developers and major retailers. Our proposals would see the redevelopment of the Northgate site for exciting new shopping and the relocation of the central library and archive to the site of the Square Spire, creating a cultural hub incorporating the Piece Hall, the Orangebox centre and the Square Chapel.”
Calderdale Council recently moved to the second phase of consultation on the future of Halifax Town Centre. Coun Collins’s warning comes at a curious time, however.
After years of playing second fiddle to neighbours such as Huddersfield and Bradford, Halifax town centre is bouncing back.
Within just a few months a huge development – the Broad Street project – costing tens of millions of pounds will open featuring some of the country’s best known brands.
And the Yorkshire Post recently reported that plans costing more than £20m were in hand to develop the somewhat neglected south of the town near the railway station.
Further development is also expected to occur shortly at the town’s historic Piece Hall with millions of pounds set to be pumped into a grandiose scheme hopefully making it “the Milan of the North”.
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Comments
There are 3 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
PorlBuckley
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 04:37 PMHi Everyone – with the state of high streets under review in general – our Town Centre Retail Clinic will be in Bradford on Monday 13th Feb at The Hilton, Hall Ings (6:30pm) The Problem Online retailing, out of town shopping centres and large chain stores are posing a threat to unique town centres and independent retailers. Yorkshire is the region worst hit, with 1 in 6 shops empty, a statistic which has seen the county titled as the UK capital of empty stores. The effects are bad and sad, and also very costly to the local economy. The Solution Together, we need to fight the war on bland high streets. We are inviting retailers, businesses and local residents alike to events across Yorkshire to offer our expert advice on how to enhance the customer experience on the high street. This is part of our Access for All scheme where as a company we offer 20% of our time to charities and communities. The project is based on what we call 'retail theatre'. It's about making businesses stand out, understanding what the consumer wants, how you can appeal to them and also show them how you're meeting their needs. It's not about small businesses spending loads of money and getting in expensive consultants. It's about delivering a better service and better products. Retailers in Yorkshire have been hit particularly badly in the downturn, as we are so passionate about our local county, we want to offer our expertise to the communities worst hit. Where & When: Bradford from 6.30pm on Monday 13th February at the Hilton Hotel, Hall Ings, Bradford 6.30pm: Arrive and register with an Insight with Passion representative 7pm: Take a seat ready for IWP’s ‘Retail Theatre’ seminar 8pm: Take part in a Q&A session with your presenter, Kate Hardcastle 9pm: Network with your fellow attendees or request a 1:1 with an IWP representative What to expect A step in the right direction. Insight with Passion will be presenting our world-renowned seminar on "Retail Theatre" to retailers, businesses and residents alike to offer advice and support on bringing the magic back to high streets. We will also build in time for a Q & A session where you can ask our advice on the challenges your store is currently facing, plus we will help you write an open letter for a representative to send to your local council. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your fellow community members to get together and make a difference. Aftercare Following the event you will be supplied with a copy of the presentation helping you to make real and effective changes to your store to enhance the customer experience; you will also have a support network consisting of other retailers facing the same challenges as you, plus you will have a collective communication to open discussions with the local council. Further Information For any further information about the clinics, retail theatre, or to ask for help in your town centre, please contact Jenny Tomlinson: jenny@insightwithpassion.co.uk, or seehttp:www.insightwithpassion.co.uktowncentres
RFH
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:55 PMWell said, #1, Green View. This survey has come from a company with a vested interest in selling retail space in town centres, so it's hardly unbiased, is it. There are NO major non-food stores in Broad Street - there could have been, but none of the major chains were interested. There are plans for a large retail development in Horton Street, if it can attract any stores, but so far it's not looking hopeful. So it beggars belief that CMBC should think Northgate will be any different - and they're prepared to sacrifice Central Library in the process, against massive opposition from the local community.
Green View
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:21 PMWhat we need is a town centre that the community wants, not one that might be good for some giant retailer who will take the profits out of town and cost jobs.
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