FSP apply techniques developed to support commercial retail decision making to create realistic performance based strategies for town centres
Turnover is the life blood of any retailer. However, in the search to understand town centre health and vitality, turnover is often overlooked in favour of more accessible but often meaningless indicators. Capacity Studies attempt to estimate town centre turnover. However, the need for a transparent approach means that sales density estimates can be twice or even three times reality.
FSP is expert in estimating, benchmarking and improving retail performance. Through years of commercial experience FSP has evolved techniques which are sufficiently accurate to allow commercial investors to negotiate rents with retailers, understand performance gaps and plan the most sustainable mix and zoning for shopping centres. FSP applies these same techniques to town centres and has identified vulnerable retailers and streets, created business focused master plans, planned retail circuits and provided much needed commercial advice that plugs the wide gap between high street reality and theoretical capacity estimates.
FSP consultancy experience includes strategic commercial advice to direct the regeneration of Blackpool town centre, retail and leisure options to support the 2025 Vision for Bournemouth town centre, advice on absent retailers for Nottingham City Council, assessment of the impact of proposals for a major mixed use development in Blackpool town centre and a commercial review of the proposed retailer line up (anticipated demand) at a major retail development in Preston to support a planning objection by Blackburn with Darwen Council.
In the current very difficult current economic conditions we are finding that traditional retail planning studies drawing on household surveys, estimates of development potential and health checks are insufficient to inform a robust and realistic strategy to sustain and enhance town centre vitality and viability. I have no hesitation in recommending FSP in providing a very knowledgeable commercial perspective in this challenging area of work
Tim Brown
Chief Planning Officer
Blackpool Council
"Much retail planning focuses on 'capacity' and floor space issues. What FSP do is to provide a commercial 'reality check' of 'demand' based on actual market analysis and the socio-economic composition of the catchment which then needs to be considered alongside 'theoretical' capacity figures. This provides an added dimension when considering and understanding development proposals and one that tends to be overlooked by many planning and property professionals”
Adrian Swift
Principal Planner
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
I must thank you for doing an excellent piece of work. It gives a very clear direction supported by persuasive evidence. We propose to bring forward some of the early recommendations for Council action.
Stephen Godsall
Executive Director, Major Projects
Bournemouth Borough Council