NATIONAL TRENDS IN RETAILING AND EFFECTS

ON HIGH STREETS.

David Lowin BA, MA, MA, MRTPI

Principal, Lowin Associates

2017 Chair of RTPI South West.

IS THIS THE FUTURE?

Sources: idailymail.co.uk i.kinga-img.com

IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!

■ Squeezed Incomes

■ Low Productivity

■ Rising Inflation

■ Brexit Uncertainty

■ Rising Interest Rates

= REDUCED CONSUMER SPENDING

Source: thumbs.dreamstime.com

Source: cliparts.co

Source: moneyexpert.com

What’s the impact on the Retail Sector?

■ British Retail Consortium announced in their

2016 Forecasting that there will be a significant

reduction in Retail jobs in the following 10 years.

■ Meaning by 2025 a loss of 900,000 Retail jobs

■ Retail premises vacancy rates nationally at 14%

with no sign of falling

■ The brunt of the impact is hitting High Streets

and shopping centres Source: Freelargeimages.co.uk

Source: d13yacurqjgara.cloudfront.net

E-Retail

600,000 shops

1950

290,000 shops

2012

E-Retail generated £8 billion

2015

E-Retail generated £11 billion. A £4 billion increase in one year!

2016

Predicted 20% of our spending will be online

2030

Experian Retail Briefing October 2015

Categories at risk

Service Sector

Banks and Building Societies

Travel Agents

Booksellers / Newsagents

Betting Shops

Footwear

Fashion Retailers

Estate Agents

Recruitment

Image Source:

telegraph.co.uk

Service Sector Winners

■ Nail Bars

■ Coffee Shops

■ E-cigarette / E-vape stores

■ Hairdressers

■ Tattoo Parlours

■ Opticians

Source:

photobucket.co.uk

Comparison Goods

Demise of well known brands in the UK

■ BHS

■ Austin Reed

■ Woolworths

■ Jessops

■ MFI

■ Blockbuster

■ American Apparel

■ Comet

Is the Department Store at risk?

Sources: ssmscdn.yp.ca i.bp.blogsport.com

Could the anchors of today fail?

Sources: nextplc.co.uk 68.media.tumblr.com a.yiptcdn.com

Retail Study of the Stroud District Town

Centres 2017

Full Report Available:

https://www.stroud.gov.uk/media/356249/item-12-

appendix-a-future-of-town-centres.pdf

Source: Stroud.gov.uk

Positive Trend Outcomes from the

Retail Study Rise of food culture

Markets

‘Local is best’

Rise of Café culture

Rise of leisure spend

Diversifying into multi-channel retailing

For example: Argos and Sainsbury’s

Sources: pintrest.com Calexico.org/farmers

Sources: Calexico.org northportfarmersmarket.com

The Future Less demand for retail floorspace

– Conflict with NPPF emphasis on retail growth

“Policy always running on catch up”

■ Review of policy restriction on change of use in

primary areas

■ Review of Town Centre boundaries

Review of the USP of your Town which requires:

– Vision

– Leadership and commitment

Embrace social media

DON’T RELY ON PLANNING POLICY ALONE

THANK YOU.