Worksop's Forward Framework
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Turning-around a Town Centre; Worksop’s Forward Framework www.people-places.co.uk 2 Turning-around a town centre Research Partners The People & Places Partnership has been commissioned by the Local Government Association to develop a ‘Forwad Framework’ for Worksop town centre on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council and key local stakeholders. Worksop’s Forward Framework 3 Understanding our town centres is about people & place. About the customers and the businesses based there. About the built fabric and sense of community created. Local perceptions & priorities L ocal people’s perceptions about the town Asking town centre users about their future priorities centre will be important in understanding will help identify concerns that can then be checked L how it serves their needs and how this against the realities of current and probable future is changing. In our survey of mid-week town performance. In the case of Worksop there are centre users in Worksop, we found they valued the increasing concerns and rising expecations about the familiarity of convenience, accessibility and social need to maintain a diverse variety of shops. There interaction above its commercial function. The are modest concerns about access and parking. indication is that it is important to maintain these There are also a small but signifant number of calls to aspects to ensure that people continue to use and reduce anti-social behaviour; an issue of increasing gain maximum benefit from the town centre. national prominence. 4 Turning-around a town centre The evidence o try and improve a town centre without propely T understanding the issues, is like baking a cake without knowing the ingredients. We always use the same process of bringing together existing local research, surveying local stakeholders and collecting our own suite of key performance indicators. In Worksop we turned to two main studies and undertook a small survey of town centre users. Retail & Leisure Townscape A distrct-wide retail and The Worksop Intervention People’s perceptions leisure study undertaken Strategy from 2016 highlights in 2016 contains a wealth ways to enhance the physical & comparable places of data on the importance ‘towscape’ in and around the To get a sense of priorty in dealing of Worksop as a local centre. Its focus is on key with town centre issues in Worksop, destination for comparison changes to make Worksop we compared customers’ perceptions shopping as well as its a more appealing place to with those in similar-sized towns.. This vulnerability to any out-of- visit, linger and spend money revealed a lot of positive sentiments town expansion. in. The Strategy guided and only two main negatives: the retail successful funding bids The data in the study also mix and aspects of physical appearance. and will shape a new ‘Town showed the potential to Centre Concept’ and Local expand leisure provision and Plan policy. the evening economy. Worksop’s Forward Framework 5 Sustaining shopping Evolving leisure Worksop currently has a strong The Savoy Cinema is an important comparison retail offer, accounting for addition to the town centre’s leisure 48% of floorspace compared to 38% for offer and there is the opportunity to comparable towns nationally. add to this with more restaurants. Empty small shops Appearance v cleanliness Measured by floorspace, vacancy rates The recent survey indicates that whilst are comparable to other towns because customers value a cleaner town centre the majority of the empty units in they remain more negative about its Worksop are smaller shops. long-term physical appearance. 6 Turning-around a town centre Emerging issues evelopments of ‘big box’ retail destinations… D can directly compete with the town centre offer, jeopardising the vitality and viability of the centres. Bassetlaw District Retail and Leisure Study 2016. Town Centre First Priory priority Like so many places, The Priory Shopping Centre Worksop faces the twin is an important part of challenge of sustaining a Worksop’s popular appeal. vibrant town centre whilst In response to tenancy serving the local demand changes and planning for convenient shopping applications, maintaining provided by household the Priory’s offer is an names. important priority in helping sustain town centre footfall. The 2016 Retaii Study For example, proposals to highlighted these pressures conslodiate units to provide and the need to have robust larger and more flexible town-centre-first policies in premises were welcomed the Local Plan that seek to in the 2016 Retail Study as assess impact and extend a way of maintaining the current High Street capacity. Shopping Centre’s appeal. Worksop’s Forward Framework 7 A sense of arrival This will include consideration of the different types This theme is focused on ensuring that visitors of car parks, the current signage and how traffic must be sure that they have “arrived in Worksop” and pedestrians move around the town. and that they have a good first impression of the Cafe culture Looking good Pridetown. Worksop isof well connectedplace by road including the A57 (east/west direction), the A60 (north and Objectives Bringing together south) and the A619 (southwest) which provide “The few existing café “Worksop town centre “goodA distinct connections to the character A1 and M1. The town is These are the main objectives for this theme: partners & priorities also served by a recently purpose-built bus station spaces and restaurants will be a thriving envi- andand train identity, station, both are withwithin close many proximity to the town centre. Furthermore, the Chesterfield 1. To instil a sense of arrival when people Canal which runs directly through the town in an to the south of Worksop ronment for high quality stories to tell and fantas- visit Worksop, North Nottinghamshire Beware the person fo- east/west direction is another route for visitors to enter the town. Therefore, there are several key 2. To create attractive gateways into the cused on single issues complement the Savoy shopping, leisure, cul- ticentry experiences points into the town from tomost bedirections had. and town for all users (vehicular and non- modes of transport. and quick fixes! Reviving Cinema, and the area tural and entertainment A regionally important vehicular) Interventions within this theme will also look at a town centre’s fortunes would benefit from an purposes. Worksop will commercialensuring visitors to the areatown will havewith access rich to 3. To provide clear and relevant signposting clear and accurate directional signage to ensure it for visitors’ needs involves understanding increased focus in devel- boast attractive streets cultural,is easy to navigate social around the and town. histor- the issues, the linkages oping an active evening and spaces providing high ic8 significance www.bassetlaw.gov.uk that make between them and coordi- economy to draw visitors quality spaces to live, it one of the UK’s most nating the work of partners to Worksop.” work and spend time in.” invigorating places” with the passion, skills and Bassetlaw District Retail Worksop Intervention North Notts Business Im- resources to tackle them.. and Leisure Study 2016 Strategy 2016 provement District (BID) 28 8 Turning-around a town centre 29 YOUR BID STEERING GROUP Putting the The North Notts BID Steering Group is made up of passionate local business people, across different business sectors dedicated to getting the North Notts BID off the ground. partnership The members of the BID Steering Group have given their time voluntarily over many months to create this BID business plan. If the BID achieves a ‘yes’ vote, a new BID Board will be set up to manage and deliver the proposals set out in this business plan and all businesses will be invited to have a place on the Board after the ballot result is announced. It is likely many new BID Board members will come from the Steering Group but new nominations will be welcomed from all businesses. in place The current BID Steering Group membership includes: George Buchanan Jane Parkinson Julie Byrne Advisory: hrough the leadership provided by BID Chair Waddington The School of Artisan Food Sally Gillborn Britain’s Biggest BID the new Worksop Town Centre Task Hodsock Priory Menswear T Royce Marshall North Notts Place Manager Force, there is an opportunity to bring orksop lies at the Rob Mayo Adrian Smith Gamston Airport Robert Wilkinson different interests together in a strong and BID Vice-Chair Nottinghamshire heart at one of the Glyn Davies Bassetlaw District Council W lasting partnership. The Task Force can provide Welbeck Estate County Council country’s newest and Barnsley Premier a necessary sense of direction, and as the Philip Jackson biggest Business Improvement Steve Bennett David Aunins Leisure Representing Worksop Council’s Leader comments, “provide the glue to BID Vice-Chair The Priory Centre Districts. The North Notts BID Cllr Jo White Business Forum bind different players together”. Traffic Labour covers all of Bassetlaw and is a John Connolly Bassetlaw District Supplies Ltd Rick Brand business-led intitiative that aims Such partnership working isn’t effective unless The RNN Group Council Representing Retford effort is put in to get it right. That way, the Jon Cornforth to ‘put the area on the map’ Kate Firth Claire Weingaertner Business Forum Saint Gobain through supporting enterprise. North Notts BID, the Worksop Business Forum, Ye Olde Bell Retford Enterprise Michelle Baker community groups, Council departments and Nigel Turner Centre Neil Roberts Regen Management other agencies can all play to their strengths and North Notts Wright Vigar Richard Scragg BID Consultant Community Arena passions to collectively improve the town centre. Springhead Brewery A ‘Forward Framework’ formalises this thinking. HAVE YOUR SAY FROM 18 APRIL-16 MAY 2017 voteWIN AnA sense attractive of arrival town to visit and spendWorksop’s Forward Frameworktime9 in Engaging all of the community eople in Worksop comment that it is a strong sense P of community that brings them to town.