21St Century High Streets a Good Practice Model

DRAFTTownCentreHealthCheck*

KINGSWOOD

AIM

UsingthisTownCentrehealthcheck,identifytheworkcurrentlytakingplaceinKingswoodtoimprovethevibrancyandvitalityoftheTownCentreandidentifyactionstohelpensureKingswoodTownCentrecontinuestoimprove.

Scope

KingswoodBusinessAssociationwillleadthehealthcheckandbycoordinatingresponsesfromrelevantpartners,produceanactionplantoidentifywhereimprovementscanbemade.Forthepurposeofthishealthcheck,‘TownCentre’ referstoRegentStreet,theKingsChaseShoppingPrecinctandadjoiningeconomy. Thehealthcheckcontainsthreemainareasoffocus:

1]DevelopingTownCentres/HighStreets(mainlyfromaphysicalenvironmentperspective)

2]SuggestedChamberActivities(reflectingKingswoodBusinessAssociation’sobjectives)

3]EnsuringLocalEconomicPartnershipSuccess(usuallyintheformofaTownCentrepartnership)

Step1

KingswoodBusinessAssociation’sexecutivecommitteewillnominateasub-grouptofirstagreeaformatbyreviewingthisdrafthealthcheckdocument. Thedrafthealthcheckwillthenbecirculatedtomembersforinitialfeedback.

Step2

KingswoodBusinessAssociationwillcompleteasmuchofthehealthcheckasfeasible.Oncepotentialpartnerorganisationshavebeenaskedtocompleteappropriate(remaining)sections,allcontributionswillbecollatedintoafinaldocument.

Step3

Thefinaldraftdocumentismadeavailableonlinetoallowthepublicandotherinterestedstakeholdersnotinvolvedintheprocesstocommentuponit.Thedocumentmayberevised/adjustedinlightofthispubliccommentperiod.Thepurposeofthispubliccommentperiodistogainbroadcommunitybackingfortheproject,explorewhetherthecommunityrecognisestheissuesidentifiedandsupporttheactionsandtogathersuggestionsforwhoelsecouldbeinvolvedinthedeliveryofactions.Thispubliccommentperiodisalsoimportantindemonstratingcommunitysupportandinvolvementwhenapplyingforgrantfundingtosupportpotentialprojects.

PotentialPartners

-KingswoodSaferStrongerCommunityGroup,CommunityLeadGroup(includingitspartners),KingsChaseShoppingPrecinct

*Compiledusing21stCenturyHighStreets,BritishRetailConsortium(2009),DrivingEconomicProsperity:apracticalguideforleadmembers,I&DeA(2009)andHighNoonfortheHighStreet,NewLocalGovernmentNetwork(2009)

KEYFACTS*

OutofTownCentresOutofTownCentreshavedecreasedTownCentrefootfallandspend.TheaveragegroupspendforoutofTownCentres,acrosstheUK,is£55comparedto£34withinin-TownCentres.Moreover,moneyspentinachainismorelikelytoleavethelocaleconomy.

LocalMoneyResearchshowsthatmoneyspentwithlocalsuppliersisworthmoretothelocaleconomyandtendstobere-spentlocally.Locallyownedbusinessescangenerateuptoa70percentlocalpremiuminenhancedeconomicimpact.

OutwardInvestmentIncontrast,onlyasmallamountofthewealththatsupermarketsgenerateactuallystaysinthecommunitiesinwhichtheyoperate.Forexample,retailprofitsoflargechainstoresormultinationalstypicallyflowdirectfromstorestotheheadofficeandultimatelytothecorporation’sshareholdersaroundtheworld.

InwardInvestmentItisimportanthowever,toemphasisethatchainstorescandriveregeneration,contributetothecommunityandimprovelocaleconomicprosperity.Whilethegrowthofthe ‘cloned’ BritishHighStreetmayhaveharmedlocalentrepreneurship,ithasalsooftenprovidedmuchneededinwardinvestmenttoacommunity.

SocialDriversTownCentres/highstreetsarecentraltolocalenvironmentalpolicyandstreetsceneimprovements.TheaestheticcharacterofTownCentres/highstreetsandtheirdesigncanplayacrucialroleinaddressingcrimeandvandalism.

EconomicDriversTownCentres/highstreetscanbethecatalystforregeneration;impactonlocalemployment;centraltodrivingfootfallincreases;provideimportantopportunitiesforlocalentrepreneurshipandenterprise.

CommunityDriversTownCentres/highstreetsareafocalpointofencouraginglocallyretainedspending,localself-determination,responsivenesstocommunityengagementandconsultationandcontributingtotheachievementofsocialinclusionandempowerment.Addedtothis,regionswithhighereconomicperformance,oftendrivenbytheperformanceoftheTownCentre/highstreet,arerecognisedtohavehigherlevelsofsocialtrustandcapital.

EnvironmentalDriversPromotingtheTownCentre/highstreetcanencouragelesstravelandreducelocalcarbonfootprints.Otherbenefitscouldbeaccruedonthebasisthatlocalshopstendtorelyonlocalproduceandsuppliersmore,withpossiblebenefitsacrossfoodmiles – leadingtoalowercarbonfootprint.

LocalEconomicPartnershipsTownCentre/highstreetpartnershipsareforumsbringingtogetherkeylocalstakeholderstopromotethehealthandwellbeingofthearea.Thepartnership’sboardofkeylocalactorsprovidesthedirection. Thesepartnershipshaveprovedparticularlyvaluableduringtherecession.ResearchshowsthatareaswhereTownCentre/highstreetpartnershipsexistseemtohavereactedmorequicklytorecenteconomicpressures.

*Asthisisagenericnationaloverview,variationswillexistacrossTownCentres/highstreetsinSouthGloucestershire.

1]DEVELOPINGTOWNCENTRES

1.1UniqueSenseofPlace

Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
1.1.1Towncentresarevitaltothelocalcommunity.Arelocalpeopleandgroupsworkingtogethertomaximisetheadvantagesofthecentre’slocalheritageornaturalsurroundings,whilstprovidingfacilitiesformodernretailing? / KBAisworkingtobuildstrongerrelationshipswithSGCandotherstatutorybodiestomaintainthetowncentre’seconomicheritageandidentity.KBAactivelyencouragesnewretailerstomoveintothetowncentre. / Continuetobuildstrongerlinkswithlandlordsofpremises,particularlyvacantunits,withaviewtofurthertheregenerationofthetowncentre’sphysicallandscape.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation
1.1.2WhatistheTowncentre’slocalidentityanddoestheexistingretailmixcomplementthislocalidentity? / Thetowncentrehashistoricallybeenthehubofeconomicactivityinthearea.Remnantsofitshistoricaffluencearestillvisibleinthehighstreetthrougharchitectureandmonuments. / WorkwithKingswoodHistorySocietytodevelopandpromotethetowncentre’shistoricidentity.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodHistorySociety
1.1.3Isthetowncentremarketedeffectivelyanddoesitdeliveronthatpromisesocustomerscanappreciatethevalueofthearea? / KBAhaveproducedmarketingmaterialtopromotelocalshopsandbusinesses.Thishasraisedawarenessofthevarietyofretailandotherbusinessesintheareatolocalresidentsandvisitors. / ContinuetoexploretheideaofproducingaKingswoodTownCentrebrochureforadvertisingpurposesaswellasatowncentredisplayboard.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation

1.2AttractivePublicRealm

Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
1.2.1IstheTowncentreanattractivetradingenvironmentwithconsistentstyling? / Thetowncentrehasscopetobemuchmoreattractivethanitcurrentlyis.Stylingvariessomewhatbetweenoldandnewbuildings. / Considerideasthatcanbrightentheaestheticappearanceofthestreetscape,inparticularpavements.Ensureallfuturehighwaysignagedoesnotcreateasenseofclutterbutcomplementsexistingones.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation
1.2.2Arepublicspacesinandaroundthetowncentremaintainedtohighstandardswitheffectivedeterrentsagainstpollution? / Currentcleaningregimesareadequateinmostplacesinthetowncentre.Insomeareashowever,streetcleansingdoesnotprovideacceptableresults.Thereappearstobenodeterrentsagainstpollutioninthetowncentre. / Reviewcleaningregimeswithaviewtoimprovingthemandconsiderquarterly,intensivespringcleansofstreetscape.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation
1.2.3Isthelocalauthority,publicbodiesandprivateinterestgroupsworkingtogethertoachieveimprovements? / WorkhastakenplacebetweenKBAandSGCtoidentify ‘troublespots’ ofunacceptablyhighlevelsofrubbishinthetowncentre. / Encourageandcreateagreaterawarenessofpridebyeducatingthelocalcommunitytomaintainahigherdegreeofcleanlinessinthetowncentre.Considerinstalling ‘enforcementsignage’ todeterpeoplefromlittering.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation

1.3PlanningforSuccess

Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
1.3.1Isthereanypartnershipandcollaborativeworking,whichisvitaltosuccessfulretail-ledeconomicregeneration? / KBAhasworkedwithKingsChaseShoppingPrecinctandregularlyhascontactwithSGConrelevantmatters.ThereisnotownorparishcouncilinKingswood.KBAhaveacloseworkingrelationshipwiththelocalpolice. / IncreasetheworkingrelationshipbetweenKBAandlargercommercialorganisationssuchaslargerchainstoresandKingsChaseShoppingPrecinct.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation
1.3.2Monitoringthehealthofthetowncentreshouldunderpinanyeffectivetowncentresystem.Isthishappening? / KBAisleadingontheTownCentreHealthCheckinitiativetoidentifyareasforimprovement. / Highlightactionstoimprovethevitalityandvibrancyofthetowncentre,tomakeitamoreattractiveshoppingdestinationandplacetodobusiness.
1.3.3Hasaclearstrategybeenestablishedtoaddressincreasingratesofvacancyandtheaccompanyingdeclineinfortunesoftowncentres? / KBAhasinvestigatedemptypremisesinthetowncentretofindoutwhothelandlordsareandhasofferedtopublicisetheirunitsbuttherehasbeenlittleinterestfromagentstocollaboratewiththisproject. / Continuetolobbyagentsandlandlordsofemptypremisesinthetowncentreandcreateadetailedandaccessible ‘vacantpropertyregister’ forinterestedpartiestoview.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation

1.4Accessibility

Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
1.4.1Parkingandtransportpolicyshouldreducetowncentrecongestionandparkingdemandswithoutaffectingfootfall.Doparkingfacilitiesattractcustomerstothetowncentre? / KingswoodtowncentrehasanumberofcarparkswithinwalkingdistanceofthehighstreetandKingsChaseShoppingPrecinct.Freecarparkingtimesvarybetween90minutesandtwohours.Theunder-usedKingsChaseShoppingPrecinctcarparkdoescharge. / WorktowardsensuringallcurrentandfuturecarparksservingKingswoodTownCentrearefreeforatleast2hours,toencouragefootfallintothearea.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation
1.4.2Arethereadequatepublictransportlinkstoconnectlocalcommunitiestothetowncentre? / Therearevarious,well-usedbusservicesroutedthroughthetowncentreconnectinglocalandwidercommunities. / ReviewthespreadofbusstoplocationswithaviewtoalleviatecongestionthathappensoutsideKingsChaseShoppingPrecinct.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation
1.4.3Areretailpremisesinthetowncentreeasilyaccessiblebywheelchairusesandbuggyusers? / Giventheageofthebuildingsinthetowncentre,thereisvariableaccesstoshops. / Signposttowncentrebusinessestorelevantwebsitesforguidance.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodBusinessAssociation

1.5SafetySecurity

Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
1.5.1Isretailcrimeandanti-socialbehaviourdeterred,withdamagedpropertyandstreetscaperestoredasquicklyaspossible? / KingsChaseShoppingPrecincthasitsownsecurity.ThereisanestablishedPubWatchscheme.StreetPastorsarealsobeingdeployed.KBAactivelyencouragesalllocalbusinessesandresidentstoreportrelevantdamagetoSGCwhogivepromptattention. / Continuetodevelopidentifiedretailcrimedeterrentsandfurtherpromotethereportingofcriminalactivityanddamagetotheappropriatebodies.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodSaferStrongerCommunityGroup
1.5.2Ismeaningfuldeterrenceachievedthroughaco-ordinatedresponsebylocalretailersandbusinesses? / DiscussionshavetakenplacebetweenthelocalpoliceandKBAwithregardtothepossibilityofa ‘shopwatchscheme’.Manybusinessesinthetowncentrealreadyhavetheirownsecurity. / Implementtheproposedshopwatchscheme.InviteotheragenciestofutureKBAmeetingstodiscusshowretailcrimecanbefurtheraddressed.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodSaferStrongerCommunityGroup
1.5.3Doesneighbourhoodpolicingmeettheneedsofthelocalbusinesscommunity – anddocrimeandanti-socialbehaviourreductionpartnershipsincludebusinesscrimeamongtheirkeypriorities? / Therehasbeenarecentreviewbylocalpoliceresultingintheallocationofadditionalpoliceresourcesintothearea.KingswoodSaferStrongerGroupholdsregulardialoguewithKBAandpolicetohighlightrelevantandcurrentissues. / StrengthenthelinksbetweenallpartiesinvolvedwithKingswoodSaferStrongerGroup.
SuggestedLead:KingswoodSaferStrongerCommunityGroup

2]SUGGESTEDCHAMBERACTIVITIES

Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
2.1Developmentofabusinessenvironmentinwhichentrepreneurshipcanflourish. / TherecentgrowthofKBAhasledtoacloserworkingrelationshipbetweenlocalbusinesses.KBARetailGroupmeetingsfacilitatecloserunderstandingofoneandanother’sbusinessesandenablethesharingofgoodpracticeandinitiatives. / Continuetopromotecloseworkingrelationshipsbetweenallbusinesses.EncouragebusinessestoattendKBA’snewlyestablished,BusinessBreakfastClub.
2.2Createandfosteraspiritofgoodwill,friendshipandunityamongstlocalbusinesses. / GeneralKBAmeetingsallowforanopenexchangeofviewsandinputfromallbusinessesisactivelyencouraged. / EncouragebusinessestocommunicateandinteractoutsideofordinaryKBAmeetingsusingexistingfacilities(suchasonlinesocialmedia)andsocialfunctionsandevents.
2.3Providefacilitiesfortheexchangeofviewsandinteractionbetweenbusinesses. / KBAprovidesopportunitiesforbusinessestomeetanddiscussissuesaffectingtheirbusinessatthemainandRetailGroupmeeting. / PromotethenewBreakfastClubasanotherfacilityforbusinessestointeractwitheachother.
2.4DevelopinformativewebsitefortheChamber. / KBAhasanon-linepresencegenerouslyprovidedby / DevelopadedicatedKBAwebsitewithasecurelog-insectionforKBAmemberstoaccesswithusefulresourcesavailabletodownload.Incorporateamembers’ benefitssectionaswell.
Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
2.5ImprovecommunicationsbetweentheChamberandParish,TownandDistrictCouncilsthroughmeetingsandcirculars. / ThereisnoTownorParishCouncilinKingswoodhowever,KBAregularlycommunicateswithSGConvariousissues. / EnsureKBAmaintainsacloseworkingrelationshipwithSGCbyattendingmeetingsasappropriateandrespondingtoandactingonconsultationsasrelevant.
2.6Establisharapportwithcivic,businessandallsectorsofthecommunityandberecognisedasrepresentingandpresentingtheviewofbusinessestothecommunity. / TherehavebeenlimitedopportunitiesforKBAtorepresenttheviewsofbusinessestothecommunity. / RaisetheprofileofKBAsothatrelevantbodiesareawareofitscapacitytoeffectivelyaddressissuesaffectingthelocaleconomy.
2.7Keepmembersinformedonimportantmattersaffectingtrade,businessesandindustry,retailandtourism. / KBAregularlycirculatesinformationtobusinessesaboutissuesofrelevanceandinformationthatcanprovebeneficialtothem. / ContinuecirculatingrelevantbusinesssupportmaterialandinformationtomembersandutilisethenewKBAwebsiteasamediumtodothis.
Idea / CurrentStatus / FutureActions
2.9Establishandmaintainrelationswithbodieshavingsimilarobjectstopromotethevibrancyofthelocaltowncentre. / KBAisawareofandhasmetotherlocalbusinessgroupsinSouthGloucestershire.KBAhasagoodworkingrelationshipwithKingsChaseShoppingPrecinct. / BecomeamemberofSouthGloucestershireBusinessForumandattenditseventstorepresentKingswoodbusinesses.
2.10Supportandhavepresenceatlocaleventsforpromotionalpurposes,asappropriate. / KBAhasbeeninvolvedwithvariousnational,localandseasonaleventstopromotebothitsmembersandKingswoodTownCentre. / IdentifyothereventsatwhichKBAcanhaveapresencetoeffectivelypromotethelocaleconomyanditsmembership.