Introduction to the City of London retail survey

Transcription

1 Introduction to the City of London retail survey Period: Published by the City of London Corporation, Department of the Built Environment August 2015

2 Table of contents Introduction... 3 The survey... 3 Data collection... 3 Information reports... 4 Measurement of retail frontage... 6 Retail use classes... 6 Information... 9 Introduction Page 2

3 Introduction The City of London Local Plan Policy CS20 sets out the policy framework for the provision of retailing within the City of London. This is to be monitored through a set of key indicators, which are based upon a review of the distribution of retail facilities within the City of London, with particular focus upon A1 retail units in the Principal Shopping Centres (PSCs) and the links between them, including the floorspace and proportion of the total frontage. The survey The Retail units in the City of London series provides information on retail units within the City of London. This is collated through a mechanism where data is maintained as a complementary component of the City of London Local Land and Property Gazetteer 1. This process incorporates: A six-monthly monitoring of development activity. Occupancy information collated from the City Occupiers Database survey. Site visits conducted by the City of London Corporation. Data collection The survey data is classified by: Use classes. Vacancy rates. Disabled access facilities. Multiple and independent A1 units 2. Convenience and comparison retail goods. Floorspace is measured from relevant planning permissions, or estimated where planning permission data is not available. Where possible, the estimate is quality-assessed through information held by business rates. This facilitates the analysis of retail trends. 1 Data analysis includes retail uses ancillary to another use (e.g. within St. Bartholomew s Hospital). 2 See page 6 of this document for the definitions of retail use classes. Introduction Page 3

4 Information reports A series of information reports is produced to facilitate an ongoing and timely analysis of the trends in the provision of retail units in the City of London. The report, Retail units in the City of London provides an analysis of all retail units in the City; this is updated on an annual basis. The City of London Local Plan (adopted January 2015) sets out policy for Principal Shopping Centres (PSCs) and Retail links. The spatial extent of the PSCs and Retail Links is set out in Map 1. Information reports are provided for each of the PSCs: Cheapside, Fleet Street, Leadenhall Market, Liverpool Street and Moorgate. Each of the PSCs has a different set of characteristics, and has been subject to different levels of redevelopment and transience of retail occupants. Thus, the purpose of the information reports is to monitor the completion of major development projects and issues related to change of use and occupants. A series of separate reports is provided for the Retail links: Cheapside to Eastcheap, Cheapside to Fleet Street, Cheapside to Holborn, Cheapside to Leadenhall Market, Cheapside to Moorgate, Leadenhall Market to Aldgate, Long Lane and Moorgate to Liverpool Street. Vacant premises are included in the survey with the classifications of data consistent with the previous survey or relevant planning permissions. Introduction Page 4

5 Map 1: Principal Shopping Centres and retail links in the City of London Introduction Page 5

6 Measurement of retail frontage Within the PSCs and retail links, the ground floor retail frontage is analysed. The term retail frontage refers a building 3 measured alongside the adjacent footway. This is only measured for the retail uses, as set out in Figure 1. Figure 1: Measurement of retail frontage Retail use classes The key purpose of the retail reports is to provide information relating to the implementation and review of planning policy. Under planning legislation, most retail services fall within a range of use classes, defined in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 and subsequent amendments; the listing below is correct as at 31 st March 2015: A1: Shops, including cafes and takeaways primarily selling cold food 4 (see Picture 1). This use class also includes opticians and travel agencies. A2: Financial and professional services, including banks (Picture 2), bureaux de change, estate agencies and betting shops 5. A3: Restaurants and cafes where hot food is primarily consumed on the premises 6 (see Picture 3). A4: Drinking establishments, where the primary use is the purchase of alcoholic drinks (though hot food may be served) including public houses and wine bars (see Picture 4). 3 In some cases, this will refer to a plot of land, where retail frontage has been removed but remains in the PSC or retail link. 4 Coffee shops are classified as A1, as their primary purpose is not selling hot food. 5 As at 31 st March 2015, the A2 use class included betting shops. However, as at 1 st April 2015, these were reclassified as sui generis. This will be reflected in future reports. 6 If most food sold is cold (e.g. sandwiches), then the unit is classed as A1. Introduction Page 6

7 A5: Takeaways, where hot foods are primarily sold and consumed off the premises 7 (see Picture 5). Sui generis: Retail uses not defined above (e.g. launderettes or market stalls) or where there no primary use, will be considered to be sui generis. Picture 1: A1 unit Picture 2: A2 unit 7 Units selling hot food that have limited seating provision are classed as A5, since the primary use is for selling food to be consumed off the premises. Introduction Page 7

8 Picture 3: A3 unit Picture 4: A4 unit Picture 5: A5 unit Introduction Page 8

9 Information A general introduction to retail use within the City of London is set out in the report, Introduction to the City of London retail survey. The report, Retail units in the City of London provides an analysis of all retail units in the City. This is updated on a regular basis, providing information on: Retail units and floorspace Vacant units Disabled access Multiple and independent stores Comparison and convenience stores The City of London Local Plan sets out policies for Principal Shopping Centres (PSCs) and retail links. Information reports are provided for each of the PSCs: Cheapside, Fleet Street, Leadenhall Market, Liverpool Street and Moorgate. The retail links are analysed in the documents, Retail Units Links between the Principal Shopping Centres in the City of London. Detailed statistical information is available, in Excel spreadsheet format. General Planning Enquiries: [email protected], Internet site: Queries regarding retail units in the City of London can be made to: Stuart O Callaghan: Telephone: , [email protected] Gavin Felgate: Telephone: , [email protected] Queries regarding retail policy can be made to: Jonathan Blathwayt: Telephone , [email protected] Introduction Page 9

10 Carolyn Dwyer, Director of the Built Environment PO Box 270, Guildhall, London EC2 The City of London Corporation is the local authority for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the City of London. Introduction Page 10