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Retail and City/Town Centres

There is now a need to rethink the role of our city, town and neighbourhood centres and establish a long term strategy that allows them to be flexible, adapt, evolve and thrive.

Our city and town centres, as well as smaller village, farm, and neighbourhood shops, are really important. In addition to providing local access to shops, services and facilities, they often form the focus within communities, providing the opportunity for interaction between people, and a source of local employment.

Tell us you ideas regarding the the questions below.

How could the Strategic and Local Plan best enable change and encourage investment to support our city and town centres to adapt, evolve and thrive?

How can the Strategic and Local Plan protect and encourage essential shops, services and facilities in villages and rural areas?

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Collecting your responses, comments and ideas.

Collecting your responses, comments and ideas.

Phase 2: Reviewing your responses, comments and ideas.

Reviewing your responses, comments and ideas.

Phase 3: Feeding back.

Feeding back.

Collecting your responses, comments and ideas.

15 January 2024 00:00 - 14 March 2024 00:00

Tell us your ideas on how we can improve, adapt, encourage and protect out city, town, and neighbourhood centres. Your ideas will be posted below for others to see, comment and like.

6 ideas

Michael Katesmark2 years ago Review local planning regulations to encourage, promote and permit the conversion of the numerous unused upper storeys of town centre buildings (often above shops) to flats affordable and suitable for key workers and young people.Prevent purchase of the above by non-residents for profit.Encourage the number of small businesses, rather than chains, for either redundant large retail spaces (that could be divided up into specialist 'markets') or small shops. Give reductions in business rates to 'destination' location shops that are not suitable for internet shopping (eg. fishmongers, bakers, artisan producers).

James Nicholson-Smith2 years ago One of the scenarios is for greater densification and this will clearly deliver the most sustainable solution. This does not mean tearing down the listed buildings. It should look at encouraging more apartments to replace larger suburban sites (3-4 sites) and there is no real reason why these cannot be both affordable and environmentally friendly. Its only developer greed that prevents this from happening.Planning policy should be setting design standards that include roof/balcony terraces, green rooves, grey water harvesting, centralised heating systems. The planning department needs to be more ambitious in terms of setting higher standards and enforcing them.

Ploy Culley2 years ago There are many empty commercial properties in Gloucester City Centre, partially due to the convenience and popularity of online shopping. I believe we should convert empty commercial properties into residential properties, and perhaps extend some the buildings upwards to increase their capacity. By doing so, we will increase footfall within the City Centre, which will have a positive effect on the remaining local businesses and increase the demand of new local businesses. Urban green infrastructure could also be incorporated to improve the quality of life for the residents, beautify the City Centre, and increase the potential of carbon capture.

James Howe2 years ago There should be a serious look at what happens to Cavendish House in the long term. For such a huge and beloved space it would be a waste to see it either go to a generic high street commercial chain or just made into flats. Perhaps a space for monthly pop up businesses to sell their products? Looking at local produce specifically. The weekly market has always been a bit mediocre and giving it a dedicated space inside that rotates will keep people coming back.

Dan Etchells2 years ago How could the Strategic and Local Plan best enable change and encourage investment to support our city and town centres to adapt, evolve and thrive?The answer here is clarity, isn't it?? Being able to say, clearly, to existing and prospective businesses / employers / investors "Our strategy for our city and town centres, until 2040 (or further) is <x>. To enable this, we are committed to improvement of transport links into these places, population growth of <y>, £Z funding is committed to this, we will ensure planning approvals are focussed on supporting these aims wherever possible' is key, is it not?? How can the Strategic and Local Plan protect and encourage essential shops, services and facilities in villages and rural areas?Again - clarity - make a statement on what must be sustained within villages and rural areas, and be clear on what will be done to support that - grants, business rate reviews, funding, etc.

Amber Holmes2 years ago Town centres need to be easy to get to if people are going to use them. Better public transport, more cycle ways and less expensive car parking will bring them in. There are empty shops and buildings which should be priority for redevelopment. Rate reduction might incentivise this. Acting to encourage absent owners to do something with these properties eg Healings Mill in Tewkesbury seems vital to regeneration.

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Past events

Improving our city, town, and village centres - Online Workshop
Event date: March 7th, 2024 from 18:00 to 19:00.
Online meeting
12 registrants
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Improving our city, town, and village centres - Online Workshop
Event date: March 5th, 2024 from 12:30 to 13:30.
Online meeting
11 registrants
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