More homes, fewer shops
CITY centres such as Plymouth's are likely to see more homes and fewer shops in future, according to a leading property expert.
Nick Wheeldon, director of estate agents Waycotts Commercial, said out-of-town shopping is now leading demand – meaning high streets have had to change. And Plymouth-born Mr Wheeldon, who lives in Yelverton and whose company covers Plymouth, said more changes are likely to be on the way with residential use one way of coping with shrinking retail demand.
It was an idea contained in a Plymouth City Council masterplan back in 2009, which advocated bringing more office and residential space into the city centre to reverse decades of town planning that has pushed development to the outskirts.
And Mr Wheeldon's comments come after Plymouth last month lost its JJB Sports outlet and a Blacks branch, both in lower New George Street, leaving the city with a vacancy rate of 11 per cent, although below the 11.6 per cent national average.
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"For the modern family, a trip to an out-of-town retail park has come to replace the family's Sunday outing to a tourist attraction," said Mr Wheeldon. These all-weather destinations with free parking and super-shed shopping, where you can buy everything you need, are now the norm."
He said it has meant some city high streets have transformed into "something resembling glitzy retail parks, with coffee shops and mobile phone retailers relieving the formulaic facades of other global brands" and said district shopping centres have also changed.
"The huge growth of the student population in Plymouth has left its mark on Mutley Plain, the city's secondary retail neighbourhood," he said.
"Where once there were family oriented, clothes, shoe and furniture stores alongside traditional food outlets and three pubs, it is now dominated by fast food, charity shops, DVD rentals and has 10 pubs.
"Villages such as Ugborough in South Devon and Plympton St Maurice, were once well served with butchers, bakers, convenience stores, a post office and the like, today they have none.
"While the population hasn't withered away, the residents have adapted."
However, Mr Wheeldon said the measures suggested by TV retail queen Mary Portas – turning void retail space in to gyms and crèches – is merely "sticking plaster policy".
And he called the Government's pledge of £10million as a high street innovation fund "laughable".
"I simply can't see the proliferation of pop-up enterprises providing any sustainable economic life however, innovative or niche they may be."
He said there are other challenges too, including the Energy Act 2011 which will require landlords to upgrade before they can let or sell properties.
Comments
by knucklehead
Friday, October 19 2012, 11:16AM
“Ten pubs on Mutley Plain? Name them...
I remember when there were just three Nottingham, Fort and Hyde Park”
by Mike100
Friday, October 19 2012, 9:05AM
“How is your old man rant related to the article jabba? And I don't see how the world was a magically better place when you were younger growing up in the drug filled 60s. But I suppose any oldy says everything is worse nowadays! Yawn...”
by niugnepyzarc
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:26PM
“jabba can I ask you do you post ANYTHING, EVER that's not some kind of comment against immigration or foreigners? your becoming more repetitive then your mate Charliedodd lol”
by jabbathebutt
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:07PM
“Oh .... I forgot .... none of these "experts" said that our laws and rules and even immigration policy would be dictated to this country by foriegners under the guise of a "common market".”
by jabbathebutt
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:02PM
“I am 60 years old ... I remembers "experts" telling me that we would all be going around on monorails right now in mega clean cities and having leisuretime to enjoy .
The reality is a drug and alcohol fueled cess pit where the normal people are taxed to death ,not even allowed free speech or a ciggy with their beer and schools where their kids have to compete with others speaking 70 odd different languages and parents must not complain of being held back or be charged with some hitherto unheard of new crime . Where they complain about the loss of a massive car industry - while fining anyone who dares drive one for dropping their granny off for thirty seconds in a town desperate for shoppers . Where marriage and settled families are frowned upon but gay relationships are heralded. Forgive me for telling these experts where to shove it .”
by mrbenn47
Thursday, October 18 2012, 8:57PM
“Expert, don't make me laugh, I could of told you that a few years ago. Could I now have a job as an expert please?
Jannerbear there have been a few clothes shops on Mutley Plain over the years (granted quite a few) and probably not in the last 10 years”
by Jannerbear
Thursday, October 18 2012, 5:05PM
“Where once there were family oriented, clothes, shoe and furniture stores alongside traditional food outlets and three pubs, it is now dominated by fast food, charity shops, DVD rentals and has 10 pubs.
Rubbish clothes shops Mutley when and where? 10 pubs name them I can think of 6, 3 of which are long standing, fast food shops are not just for students.
No mention of the 2 big name supermarkets soon to be a third Sainsburys in the old Mutley Crown site, no mention of the two Indian restaurants or the coffee shops and cafes such as Goodbodies -an old Plymouth institution- nor any mention of the butcher, smaller food shops, recently opened cake shop, banks or the fact its minutes to walk to Hyde Park for smaller specialist shops.
But most importantly there are no mention of the several ESTATE AGENTS that infest the area.”
by Waltersmith
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:55AM
“@ChezGuevara
Clint soon won't have anything to manage”
by ChezGuevara
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:36AM
“It doesn't take a leading property 'expert' to work that one out. Plymouth City Centre is nearly empty now and they are turning the old Woolworths site and the old Good Companions site into Student flats.
What Plymouth City Centre needs is more coffee shops .. somewhere you can get a nice cup of coffee. They are very few and far between. Perhaps the City Centre Manager could action this. lol”
by Mike100
Thursday, October 18 2012, 10:22AM
“I agree with the reasons mentioned for depleting shops however a supposed "retail expert" that doesn't mention the fact that Internet shopping Is a major reason for less shops is laughable!”