Local Authorities

In the post Credit Crunch economy, public sector financial support for large retail led regeneration projects will be very limited and retail development will increasingly have to be economically viable.  Concerns sparked by rising unemployment, higher taxes and weak consumer confidence mean that occupier demand, particularly for towns in long term decline is unlikely to return, leaving many proposed schemes unviable and the regeneration ambitions of many Local Authorities stalled.

In the meantime, under invested towns are becoming increasingly irrelevant and shoppers are easy targets for alternatives such as supermarkets, online shopping, retail parks, regional malls and successfully regenerated centres.  As a result, the latest edition of the National Survey of Local Shopping patterns shows towns such as Bradford, Stockport and Wolverhampton continuing to decline.

The pressure from alternative channels and competing destinations is such that Local Authorities must continue to seek ways of improving towns without major retail development.  This means attracting new retailers, maintaining shopper footfall and ensuring that retail places remain relevant to changing consumer needs. 

With over 30 years experience in supporting the UK property industry and 120 years experience in senior retail posts, FSP believes that commercially profitable shops and satisfied shoppers are key to maintaining the most successful retail places.  By assessing the unique local factors which affect retailer and shopper performance, FSP combines both experience and insight to provide Local Authorities with the best, most realistic strategies to improve the commercial performance of town centres.