Agenda item

ALDERSHOT TOWN CENTRE STRATEGY - UPDATE

To receive an update from the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing on the progress on the development of the Aldershot Town Centre Strategy and receive the results from stage 1 of the Town Centre Uses Study and other data gathered (covering report attached).  The Board are asked to agree the process and the proposed way forward. 

 

The Board will also receive an update on the support and guidance from the High Streets Task Force.  Aldershot has been selected as a pilot area to receive expert support and funding to help with town centre regeneration.

Minutes:

The Board received the Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing’s Report No. EPSH2019, which provided an update on the Aldershot Town Centre Uses Study that had been commissioned by the Council in December 2019 to provide evidence to support an updated Strategy for Aldershot Town Centre.  

 

The Chairman welcomed Dr. Steven Norris (Director and National Head of Planning, Development and Regeneration) and Blathnaid Duffy (Director, Planning, Development and Regeneration) from the Council’s consultants, Lambert Smith Hampton, who had joined the meeting to give a presentation on the Study.  The Study had been carried out to provide evidence to enable the Council to determine the likely level of need for retail, office, cultural and leisure floorspace in Aldershot Town Centre from the current baseline looking ahead five years, ten years and beyond. The forecasts would take account of the development proposed both within the town centre and beyond to advise how demographic changes associated with development of this scale were likely to influence demand. 

 

A copy of the presentation had been circulated to the Board in advance of the meeting.  The presentation covered:

 

·         the scope of the work

·         core study outputs

·         key trends and challenges

·         the impact of Covid-19 (accelerating trends)

·         headline findings of Part 1 of the study (market research)

·         population and expenditure

·         shopping patterns/market shares for food shopping and non-food shopping

·         retail floorspace capacity forecasts

·         an assessment of commercial leisure needs

·         Aldershot town centre health check (diversity of uses, market position and perception of town centre (household survey v in-centre survey)

·         emerging strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the town centre

·         an outline of the next steps of the Study (Part 2 – potential to support new office floorspace, strategy for managing future change and growth, potential steps to recovery following Covid-19)

 

During discussion, questions were raised regarding:

 

·         convenience retail and food/beverage offers being “strengths” for Aldershot town centre and how the Council could build on these going forward

 

·         the possibility of developing the area around the train station

 

·         the repurposing of space/buildings for leisure uses

 

·         the use of the “strengths” identified in the development of the Union Street East and Galleries sites

 

·         how to make the best use of the town centre’s heritage offer

 

·         the cost of the provision of open space

 

·         the impact of an increased population on security

 

·         the profile of the sample of residents used in the market research and the need to ensure that the thoughts and aspirations of young people were captured

 

·         the findings of the market research on residents’ thoughts on Aldershot Town Centre’s unique selling point

 

·         what the Council can do to retain the Borough’s young talent to stay in the area

 

The Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing outlined the next steps of the Study (Part 2) to the Board, which would be continued over the following two months.  It was anticipated that an interim Aldershot Town Centre Strategy would be published in the autumn.  Due to the changing situation as a result of Covid-19, the finalised Strategy would be published later than had originally been envisaged to capture a clearer assessment of people’s shopping habits and the challenges for the town centre as the Borough recovered from the effects of Covid-19.

 

Action to be taken

 

By whom

When

Submit questions to Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing to be sent to Lambert Smith Hampton for response

Board Members

As soon as possible

 

 

 

The Board’s comments to be included in shaping the Aldershot Town Centre Strategy

 

Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing

Autumn 2020

A copy of the Retail and Town Centre Uses Study to be sent to the Board Members

Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing

June 2020

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: