Richard Larking: Lure of the shopping centre can leave legacy of blight

Scores of camera crews were there to capture the crowds of enthusiastic shoppers, the cutting of the ribbon and the show-stopping spectacle of the 15m long dress worn by former Cirque Du Soleil artist Colette Morrow, created by British designer Henry Holland.

I am delighted that Leeds has attracted this investment and I sincerely hope that this development translates into sales and attracts more visitors to the city. Trinity has re-opened up the old walkways such as the Burton Arcade and the regeneration of this neglected part of the city is to be celebrated.

But now that this shiny new centre has arrived, I do wonder what will happen to the other parts of Leeds that have traditionally been popular with consumers.

I am referring in particular to the Albion Street and Lands Lane areas, which have already been hit by the closure of big names such as HMV and Clinton Cards.

Next was quick to move out of its prominent Albion Street store to set up in Trinity, and other names like Ernest Jones, River Island and La Senza are set to follow. Leeds has always sustained a healthy mix of big names and independent traders and since the chain stores attract the footfall, they help the independent stores to flourish. My fear is that the mass exodus from this part of the city may damage the independents.

Of course, this shift in footfall applies not just to shopping but to leisure. Trinity has dedicated 20 per cent of its space to restaurants, this compares to an average city centre statistic of 10 per cent. The new centre is also pitching itself as a night time venue with a cocktail bar, an Everyman cinema and several stylish restaurants.

Many people will remember the Schofield Centre which was the Trinity Centre of its day. Opened in 1990, the plush Schofield department store was the flagship retailer in a centre which housed outlets such as Levi and Lillywhites as well as some popular independent stores.

Just six years later, the department store closed down – possibly due to competition from House of Fraser – but the closure had a knock-on effect on the rest of the centre and it never quite recovered. The site subsequently became the Headrow Centre and is now known as the Core which is home to a handful of shops including a 99p shop, but it remains largely empty.

This part of town is looking decidedly down-trodden and this concerns me because the Lonely Planet guide to Britain once described Leeds as the “Knightsbridge of the North” and the city has consistently been ranked as one of the UK’s top five retail destinations. Indeed, Harvey Nichols chose Leeds as the location for its first store outside London.

Surely part of the city’s appeal is the blend of big brand names with vibrant independent stores all linked by our characterful arcades?

It is a sad fact that in the second half of 2012 the number of stores that closed on the UK’s high streets outnumbered those that opened; that is the worst national result for two years. Clothing retailers, florists and bookstores were the worst hit.

It is true to say that Trinity was designed to integrate with the city and I applaud that notion, but I am concerned that in reality, it will actually create a vacuum, drawing retailers, restaurateurs and their customers away from established parts of the centre, leaving other stores vulnerable and creating a new neglected area of Leeds.

This is what happened in Sheffield city centre following the opening of Meadowhall.

Leeds has a strong tradition of partnership working between the city council and the commercial property sector. We have a collective responsibility to think strategically about the best way to ensure that these pockets of the city centre benefit from Leeds Trinity and are not left to struggle on alone.