Town centres are central to our communities but are increasingly less important to our shopping. Regional Shopping Malls, Retail Parks, Supermarkets and the Internet have rapidly grown market share, while flagship regeneration schemes have sacrificed many smaller towns for the good of a few large cities.
Town centre retailing can offer its shoppers something valuable that cannot be matched out-of-town or on the internet. But to do this, each town needs to reflect its own character and the particular aspirations of its own citizens.
FSP links the aspirations of consumers with the needs of retailers, property investors and other stakeholders, using market trends to reverse the fortunes of town centres. Our consultancy experience includes commercial advice to direct the regeneration of Blackpool town centre, retail and leisure options to support the 2025 Vision for Bournemouth town centre, review of the anticipated demand at a major retail development in Preston for Blackburn with Darwen Council, impact assessment for a major mixed use development in Blackpool town centre for ReBlackpool, absent occupiers for Nottingham City Council and the future of town centre retailing for Gedling Borough 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