Local Centres Study 2017

2017

Evidence base under pinning the Local Plan for the Borough of Oadby and Wigston

CONTENTS PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. OLD OADBY/LONDON ROAD, OADBY 2

3. BRABAZON ROAD, OADBY 7

4. GLEN ROAD / HIGHCROFT AVENUE, OADBY 11

5. ROSEMEAD DRIVE, OADBY 15

6. SEVERN ROAD, OADBY 19

7. LEICESTER ROAD, WIGSTON 23

8. KELMARSH AVENUE, WIGSTON 27

9. LITTLE HILL SHOPPING PARADE, WIGSTON 31

10. QUEENS DRIVE, WIGSTON 35

11. GLOUCESTER CRESCENT, SOUTH WIGSTON 39

ANNEX 1 43

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 A Local Retail Centres survey was undertaken in May 2017. The primary aim of the survey was to record the land uses (ground floor level) in each of the Borough’s identified Local Centres. This work will enable future monitoring of changes of use in the Local Centres, as well as keeping a check on each centres viability and vitality in accordance with NPPF Paragraph 23.

Definition of Local Centres

1.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012) makes reference to local centres within its definition of town centres: Areas defined on the local authority’s proposal map, including the primary shopping area and areas predominantly occupied by main town centre uses within or adjacent to the primary shopping area. References to town centres or centres apply to city centres, town centres, district centres and local centres but exclude small parades of shops of purely neighbourhood significance. Unless they are identified as centres in Local Plans, existing out-of-centre developments, comprising or including main town centre uses, do not constitute town centres.

1.3 For the purposes of this document Local Centres include a range of shops of a local nature, serving a small catchment. Typically, Local Centres might include, amongst other retail uses, a small supermarket, a newsagent, a sub-post office and / or a pharmacy. Other facilities could include a hot-food takeaways and a launderette. For the purposes of defining Local Centres, the Borough Council will set a threshold of 3 units (minimum) in order to be classified as a designated Local Centre. The Council will continue to monitor the Local Centres on an annual basis to ensure that the threshold of 3 units is complied with for all of the Council’s identified Local Centres.

1.4 The facilities contained within Local Centres provide an important resource to the local community they serve. In many cases they provide a focal point to a community and are usually situated close to residential accommodation, thereby ensuring all residents, regardless of mobility are able to access facilities locally.

2. OLD OADBY, LONDON ROAD, OADBY

Overview of centre

2.1 Old Oadby London Road has not historically been defined a Local Centre, having previously being located within the town centre boundary and secondary shopping area of Oadby District Centre on the Proposals Map accompanying the Oadby & Wigston Local Plan (1999). Since the adoption of the Town Centres Area Action Plan, the area became essentially unidentified in planning policy terms, as the town centre boundary of Oadby was condensed to exclude the London Road area. The Retail Capacity Study (2016) advises that Old Oadby, London Road should be designated as a new Local Centre within the new Local Plan, due to the important role it plays within the local community.

2.2 There are currently 30 units within the Old Oadby boundary, 15 more than the second largest Local Centre of Leicester Road, Wigston. Old Oadby, London Road is the fourth largest centre after the town and district centres of Wigston, Oadby and South Wigston. All the units are operated by independent operators, rather than by mainstream stores selling convenience and comparison goods. The types of uses, total number of units and percentage of total units are listed below in further detail within Table 1.

2.3 Old Oadby is located immediately to the south east of Oadby District Centre. Whilst Old Oadby is very close to Oadby District Centre, there is a clear distinction between the two. The centre begins at the junction of Leicester Road / Albion Street / Wigston Road to the west and ends at the junction of London Road / Mount Road to the east. The centre is linear with units situated on either side of London Road.

2.4 Table 2 sets out the changes that have occurred within the Old Oadby centre within the past 5 years.

Table 1 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 1 3.33%

A1 Comparison 3 10.00%

A1 Services 10 33.33%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 7 23.33%

A4 Drinking Establishments 3 10.00%

B1 Business 2 6.66%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 4 13.33%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 30 100.00%* * Due to rounding, the total is actually 99.98%

Table 2 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years London 1 Fox Inn Pub A4 No Change Road London Oadby Tyre Tyre Fitting / Sui 2 No Change Road Services Repairs Generis London The Black 3 Pub A4 No Change Road Dog A.J Adkinson London Funeral 4 Funeral A1 No Change Road Directors Directors Geelas Changes Restaurant A3 Krupa (Paradise A3 -

5 London Chirag A3 - Road Oadby Spice A3 - Geelas Krupa A3) London Wilson B 6 Butchers A1 No Change Road Ragg Kitchen London In-Toto 7 showroom and A1 No Change Road Kitchens shop London 8 Swatlands Restaurant A3 No Change Road London Sui 9 Queens Taxi Taxi Office No Change Road Generis London E R Fox & 10 Textile Merchant A1 No Change Road Son Michael Home London John 11 Furnishing No Change Road Flooring and Showroom/Shop A1 Interiors London The Barber 12 Hairdressers A1 No Change Road Shop Changes

(Tamarind Leaf London Indus Restaurant A3 13 A3- Cafe Asia A3- Road Indus A3) London The Oadby 14 Shoe Repairs etc A1 No Change Road Cobbler London York and 15 Optician A1 No Change Road Cooper London Gingerbread 16 Bakery (2 units) A1 No Change Road Cottage London 17 Xibis Offices B1a No Change Road Changes (Spices London Pizza Hot Food A5- Fiery Feast 18 Zebari Pizza A5 Road Takeaway A5 - Zebari Pizza A5) London John Hardy 19 Antiques shop A1 No Change Road Antiques London Creed Hair 20 Hairdressers A1 No Change Road Design London 21 The Wheel Pub A4 No Change Road Relaxation London Sui 22 The Retreat Treatments No Change Road Generis (Massage etc) Changes (Halaal Indian London Desi Lounge Ice-Land A1 - 23 Restaurant and A3 / A4 Road and Bar Desi Lounge & Sports Bar Bar A3/A4)

Changes (Nice ‘N’

Paul's Spicy A3 - Mezaki Restaurant / Bar A3 / A4 London Kitchen Cafe A3- Paul’s 24 Road Kitchen A3/A4) Changes (Mercury

Select News Shop A1- Newsagent A1 London Convenience Select 25 Road Convenience A1) London 26 Salon 62 Hairdressers A1 No Change Road London Chinese Hot 27 Tak's House A5 No Change Road Food Takeaway

Schoolwear School uniform London B1c No Change Solutions manufacturer 28 Road London 29 Adrian Hairdressers A1 No Change Road The Aloe Foot Care and London Sui 30 Therapy Healing No Change Road Generis Centre Treatments

Leisure, civic and community facilities

2.5 Old Oadby local centre does not have any leisure, civic or community uses situated within its boundary, however there is a wide selection nearby. Although not specifically leisure, civic or community uses, the centre does benefit from a number of pubs, bars and restaurants.

2.6 The leisure, civic and community uses located nearby include libraries and GP surgeries. There are also primary and secondary schools located nearby, including Gartree High School and Beauchamp College, both of which are within a 15 minute walk.

Public transport

2.7 There are a number of bus stops situated within the Old Oadby boundary. They are outside the Wheel Inn Public House on London Road; Queen Street, adjacent to 133 London Road; and outside Alexandra Court, London Road. All stops provide the 31 service operated by Arriva Midlands. This service provides local residents and users of the centre with a reliable method of accessing Leicester City Centre. Old Oadby is also in close proximity to the Glen Road / Harborough Road (A6) junction, which also provides a key gateway into Leicester City Centre via Leicester Road / London Road. The nearest rail connection is approximately 3 miles away (1 hours walk) south west in South Wigston.

3. BRABAZON ROAD, OADBY

Overview of centre

3.1 Brabazon Road Local Centre is located in the north of the Borough in Oadby. There are 3 units in total, all of which are occupied (see Table 3). Above all of the ground floor units, are residential flats. Brabazon Road was not identified in the Council’s Core Strategy as a ‘Local Centre’, but for the purposes of this document and the new Local Plan, it is recommended to be defined as such, because the units provide an important community hub for the residents occupying the dwellings in the immediate vicinity to the centre. The Brabazon Road Local Centre also meets the threshold requirement of 3 units to be classified as a Local Centre within the Borough.

3.2 Brabazon Road is located to the south west of Oadby District Centre. It is located on the east side of Brabazon Road, just south of Bruins Walk. The centre comprises of Mercury Newsagents (Use Class A1), Sky’s The Limit (Use Class A1) and Tanya Hyde (Use Class Sui Generis) (see Table 4). On-street car parking is located directly to the front of the units. A bus stop is located close to the Local Centre. The Retail Capacity Study (2016) advises that Brabazon Road, Oadby should be designated as a new Local Centre within the new Local Plan, due to the important role it plays within the local community.

3.3 Use class A1 retail holds the majority of uses in this small cluster. There have been no changes to any businesses within the Brabazon Road Local Centre over the past 5 years (see Table 4).

Table 3 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 1 33.33%

A1 Comparison 1 33.33%

A1 Services 0 0.00%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 0 0.00%

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 1 33.33%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 3 100.0%* * Due to rounding, the total is actually 99.99%

Table 4 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years Brabazon Mercury 56 Newsagents A1 No Change Road Newsagents Brabazon Sky’s The Party / 52-54 A1 No Change Road Limit Decorations Brabazon Sui 50 Tanya Hyde Tanning Salon No Change Road Generis

Leisure, civic and community facilities

3.4 There are no businesses in this Local Centre that provide leisure, civic or community functions.

3.5 The centre however is located approximately 5-10 minute walk south west of Oadby District Centre which has a variety of shops and services, including Oadby Library and GP surgeries.

3.6 There are two nursery schools and one primary school within a 10 minute walk of this centre. However, there are no secondary schools within such short distance.

Public transport

3.7 The Arriva bus service, 31A, runs between Leicester City Centre and Coombe Rise, Oadby, via Brabazon Road, Oadby. It takes approximately 20 minutes to travel from Leicester City Centre to Brabazon Road via this service. The nearest rail connection is approximately 3 miles away in South Wigston.

4. GLEN ROAD / HIGHCROFT AVENUE, OADBY

Overview of centre

4.1 The Glen Road / Highcroft Avenue local centre is located in Oadby. The centre was defined in the Council’s Core Strategy as a local centre. The majority of the local centre is located on the south west side of Glen Road (the A6), although the Oadby Owl public house is located on the opposite side of Glen Road. Glen Road is a busy road and can only be crossed at the pedestrian crossing which is located outside the public house. Glen Road / Highcroft Avenue have a total of eight units within the designated centre area (see Table 5).

4.2 In addition to the public house, the Local Centre comprises a Sainsbury’s foodstore (5,717 sq. m gross / 3,289 sq. m net) and an associated petrol station. The presence of Sainsbury’s Supermarket makes this shopping area a lot more significant in retail floorspace terms than it otherwise would be. Also on the south west side of Glen Road is the Croft Medical Centre (D1) and a small group of shops comprising Gina’s Slice of Cake (Use Class A1), Oadby Fish Bar (Use Class A5), Nacto Select food store (Use Class A1) and Dominos Pizza (Use Class A5) (see Table 6). Glen Road /Highcroft Avenue does not contain any comparison units, although the Sainsbury’s store offers a clothing range and other comparison goods, as well as a café and pharmacy. The Sainsbury’s foodstore, Croft Medical Centre and the Oadby Owl public house all have private car parks. The small group of shops have on-street parking available directly outside. A bus stop is located outside the Sainsbury’s foodstore on the A6.

4.3 There are 8 units that make up this local centre. Three changes have taken place on Highcroft Avenue within the past 5 years, with Shape 2 Hair (Use Class A1) being replaced by Nacto Select food store (Use Class A1), a vacant unit becoming occupied by Gina’s Slice of Cake (Use Class A1) and Bargain Booze (Use Class A1) becoming a Dominos Pizza (Use Class A5) (see Table 6). All of these units complement the existing A5 unit (Oadby Fish Bar). There is a good mix of convenience and service retail provision within the Glen Road / Highcroft Avenue Local Centre. Use class A1 retail accounts for the largest number of units that are presently in use within this local centre.

Table 5 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 3 37.5%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 0 0.00%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 2 25.00%

A4 Drinking Establishments 1 12.5%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 1 12.5%

Sui Generis 1 12.5%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 8 100.0%

Table 6 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years Change (Shape 2 Highcroft Indian Food Hair- Hairdressers 77 Nacto Select A1 Avenue Store A1- Nacto Select A1) Change (Vacant- Highcroft Gina’s Slice 79 Cake Shop A1 Gina’s Slice Of Avenue Of Cake Cake A1) Highcroft Oadby Fish Hot Food 81 A5 No Change Avenue Bar Takeaway Change (Bargain Highcroft Dominos Hot Food 83 A5 Booze- Avenue Pizza Takeaway Convenience

Store A1-Dominos Pizza A5) The Croft 2 Glen Road Medical Doctors Surgery D1 No Change Centre Sainsbury’s Sui NA Glen Road Petrol Petrol Station No Change Generis Station Sainsbury’s NA Glen Road Supermarket A1 No Change Supermarket

7 Glen Road Oadby Owl Public House A4 No Change

Leisure, civic and community facilities

4.4 This local centre has 1 civic and community facility, the GP surgery (Croft medical Centre). The centre is approximately a 10-15 minute walk south-east of Oadby District Centre also. There are 3 primary schools and 2 secondary schools within 10 minute walking distance of the centre, including Gartree High School and Beauchamp College.

Public transport

4.5 There are two bus stops in this centre on either side of the A6 Glen Road. A total of five services stop at this stop, providing regular routes to Leicester City Centre; Oadby District Centre; Oadby Grange Estate; Rothwell; Great Easton; Kibworth; Market Harborough; and, Northampton. The nearest rail connection is 3.5 miles away at South Wigston.

5. ROSEMEAD DRIVE, OADBY

Overview of centre

5.1 Rosemead Drive, Oadby is located to the south-east of Oadby District Centre. The local centre is located on the north side of Rosemead Drive, close to Brambling Way and Sibton Lane. It was originally defined in the Council’s Core Strategy. Rosemead Drive has a total of eight units within its centre area (see Table 7). The centre comprises of St Peter’s Auto Centre (Use Class Sui Generis), Mezze Mangal (Use Class A3), Sajja Beauty (Use Class A1), Sani’s (Use Class A1), Louise Flynn (Use Class A1), Oriental Chef (Use Class A5), Mercury News Shop (Use Class A1) and GP3 Financial Solutions Ltd (Use Class A2). Rosemead Drive does not contain any comparison goods units. On-street parking is available directly to the front of the units. It was seemingly well used at the time of survey as the parking area was mostly full. Over the past 5 years the total number of units has remained the same, although the Local Centre now contains more service units and no comparison retail units.

5.2 As mentioned above three changes have taken place in the past 5 years, with Kitchen’s UK Ltd (Use Class A1) being replaced by La Femme Belle / Louise Flynn (Use Class A1), Sajja’s Beauty Salon (Use Class A1) replaced the previous unit La Femme Belle / Louise Flynn (Use Class A1), which has now relocated to a different unit within the local centre and The Chippy (Use Class A5) has been replaced by Mezze Mangal (Use Class A3). The changes that have occurred to each unit are illustrated below within Table 8.

Table 7 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 1 12.5%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 3 37.5%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 1 12.5%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 2 25%

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 1 12.5%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 8 100.00%*

Table 8 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years Rosemead Gp3 Financial Financial 50 A2 No Change Drive Solutions Ltd Services Rosemead Mercury Newsagent & 52 A1 No Change Drive News Shop Sub-Post Office Rosemead Hot Food 54A Oriental Chef A5 No Change Drive Takeaway Change (Complete La Femme Rosemead Hairdressers/Be Kitchen’s UK Ltd- 56 Belle/Louise A1 Drive auty Salon Kitchen Flynn Showroom A1- La Femme

Belle/Louise Flynn- Hairdressers/Beau ty Salon A1) Rosemead Sani’s Gents Hairdressers / 58 A1 No Change Drive Hair Studio Beauty Salon Change (La Femme Belle- Rosemead Sajja Hairdressers/Beau 58 Beauty Salon A1 Drive Beauty’s ty Salon A1- Sajja Beauty’s- Beauty Salon A1) Change (The Chippy- Rosemead Mezze Turkish Takeaway A5- 60 A3 Drive Mangal Restaurant Mezze Mangal- Turkish Restaurant A3) St Peters Rosemead Sui NA Auto Centre Car Showroom No Change Drive Generis Ltd

Leisure, civic and community facilities

5.3 Although there are no leisure, civic or community uses as such, there are three businesses providing services or goods that aren’t typically available in other local centres within the Borough. The site is located within a predominately residential area and has a playing field to the north and a church to the east, therefore there are leisure and civic / community uses situated close by. Rosemead Drive Local Centre is within 10 minutes walking distance of 2 nursery schools, 2 primary schools and 2 high schools (1 incorporating a college).

Public transport

5.4 An Arriva bus service from Leicester City Centre to Coombe Rise (31A) passes by the centre and stops at a stop outside St Peter’s Auto Centre Ltd. The nearest rail connection is 3 miles to the west at South Wigston.

6. SEVERN ROAD, OADBY

Overview of centre

6.1 The Severn Road Local Centre in Oadby is located in the north-east of the Borough and was first identified as a local centre within the Council’s Core Strategy. The centre is located to the east of Oadby District Centre. The centre is located on the west side of Severn Road, between Uplands Road and Hamble Road and has three units within its designated area. The centre meets the threshold requirement of 3 units to be classified as a local centre within the Borough.

6.2 The centre comprises of a small Co-op foodstore (399 sq. m gross / 266 sq. m net), a Mace convenience store and chemist. The Co-op foodstore has a private car park. Additional parking is provided to the rear of the other two units and can be accessed via St Pauls Close. A bus stop is located close to the local centre. This centre, containing a newsagent and sub-Post Office, as well as other businesses (pharmacy/convenience food store), caters for the local community’s everyday basic needs. There is also a GP surgery adjacent to the Co-op car park on Uplands Road which provides an invaluable local facility.

6.3 The Severn Road centre contains all Use Class A1 (see Table 9). This centre is made up of three Use Class A1 retail units with a Co-operative food store occupying the premises of the former Roti Indian Restaurant (Use Class A3) and ‘Blues’ Public House (Use Class A4). The other two units of Severn Chemists (Use Class A1) and MACE Stores (Use Class A1) remain in the same use as they have for the past 5 years (see Table 10).

Table 9 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 3 100.0%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 0 0.00%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 0 0.00%

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 0 0.00%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 3 100.0%*

Table 10 – Description of units identified

Use Changes to Street Street Name of Business Class business/use class Number Name Premises Type 2017 in last 5 years Severn 40 Severn Road Pharmacy A1 No Change Chemists Convenience 44 Severn Road MACE Stores A1 No Change Store Change (Blues Public Uplands Convenience House A4- Roti Indian 167 Co-Op A1 Road Food Store Restaurant A3- Co-Op Food Store A1)

Leisure, civic and community facilities

6.4 The site is located within a residential area and provides the local population with basic everyday convenience, service and catering supplies. Although there are no specific leisure, civic or community facilities situated within the centre there is a Church, nursery, Primary School, GP surgery and a High School, all within 5 minutes walking distance of this centre.

Public transport

6.5 The Arriva bus service (no. 31) from Leicester City Centre to Oadby Grange passes through this centre along Severn Road and stops outside the Co-operative food store. The nearest rail connection is 3.8 miles to the north in Leicester City.

7. LEICESTER ROAD, WIGSTON

Overview of centre

7.1 Leicester Road Local Centre, Wigston, is located to the far north of Wigston and is located along a key access route into the Borough. It is approximately 1 mile north of Wigston Town Centre, or a 20 minute walk. Units are located either side of Leicester Road, which is a busy dual carriageway road and can be difficult to cross at times. The centre was first identified within the Core Strategy as a local centre.

7.2 In total, there are 15 businesses in this centre, making it the second largest local centre and the fifth largest centre in the Borough, only lesser than Wigston Town Centre, Oadby District Centre, South Wigston District Centre and Old Oadby Local Centre. Due to its location and proximity to the Borough’s boundary, this centre actually serves residents from Leicester City as well as those in the Borough of Oadby and Wigston. A large proportion of the retail mix is service provision, with the addition of a small selection of convenience and comparison retail (see Table 11).

7.3 The local centre comprises of The Ramada (Use Class C1), Dereks Barber Shop (Use Class A1), Partytime Supplies (Use Class A1), Potters Superstore (Use Class A1), Base (health & beauty) (A1), Cash for Clothes & Shoes (financial services) (A1), Bathrooms by Regency (Bathroom Shop) (A1), a small Sainsbury’s Local foodstore (378 sq. gross / 166 sq. m net) (A1), Subway (Sandwich Shop) (A1), Scraptoft Garage (vehicle repairs & services) (Sui Generis), Webster Cycles (cycles & accessories) (A1), Headquarters (health & beauty) (A1), SHBS (other retail services) (A1), Natural Smiles (Dentist Surgery) (D1) and The Cradle Day Nursery (Day Nursery) (D1) (Table 12). The Sainsbury’s local foodstore has a private car park. The other retail / service units tend to have on-street parking directly in front of the stores. A bus stop is located outside the Sainsbury’s Local foodstore.

7.4 There have been a total of 7 changes within this local centre over the past 5 years. The key changes within this local centre are Natural Smiles dentist (D1), Cash For Clothes Shoes (A1), Potters Superstore (A1), Sainsbury’s Local (A1) and Subway (A1). Both the units The Cradle Day Nursery (D1) and Ramada Stage Hotel (C1) have both undergone rebranding, but still remain in the same principal use. All of these changes have been illustrated below in Table 12.

Table 11 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 3 20.00%

A1 Comparison 2 13.3%

A1 Services 7 46.6%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 0 0.00%

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 1 6.66%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 1 6.66%

Sui Generis 1 6.66%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 15 100.00%*

Table 12 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years Change (Smartphone Leicester Natural 264-266 Dental Surgery D1 Centre A1- Road Smiles Natural Smiles- D1) Leicester 268 SHBS Ltd IT Services A1 No Change Road Leicester Headquarters 268A Hairdressers A1 No Change Road Hairdressers Leicester Websters Cycle Sales and 270 A1 No Change Road Cycles Repair

Change Cash For (Welford Wines Leicester 271 Clothes/Shoe Clothing Store A1 A1- Cash For Road s Clothes/Shoes A1) Leicester Base Hair 273 Hairdressers A1 No Change Road Salon Leicester Scraptoft Auto Sales and Sui 282 No Change Road Garage Repairs Generis Change (Premier Leicester Potters Convenience 281 Carpet Shop A1 Road Superstore Store A1- Potters Superstore A1)

Leicester Partytime Party Supplies 289 A1 No Change Road Supplies Sales Leicester Derek’s 289A Hairdressers A1 No Change Road Barber Shop Leicester Bathrooms by 291 Bathroom Sales A1 No Change Road Regency Leicester Ramada No Change 299 Hotel C1 Road Stage Hotel (Rebranded) Leicester The Cradle No Change 308 Day Nursery D1 Road Day Nursery (Rebranded) Change (Royal Sainsbury’s Food Store A1 Oak A4- Local (Convenience) Sainsbury’s A1) Change Leicester Subway Sandwich Shop A1 (Vacant- Road Subway A1)

Leisure, civic and community facilities

7.5 The local centre has three leisure civic and community uses; consisting a dentist surgery, a children’s day nursery and a hotel. There is also an Infants School and a Primary School approximately 10 minutes walk north of this centre, albeit in Leicester City. There is also the Freer Community Centre approximately 5 minutes walk south of the local centre.

Public transport

7.6 Public transport (bus) connections along Leicester Road are frequent and offer the public a regular and affordable mode of transport both into the City of Leicester, as well as to Wigston Town Centre. The nearest rail connection is 2 miles in South Wigston.

8. KELMARSH AVENUE, WIGSTON

Overview of centre

8.1 Kelmarsh Avenue Local Centre, Wigston, is located in a relatively central position within the Borough of Oadby and Wigston, approximately a 5-10 minute walk to the south-east of Wigston Town Centre. The local centre is located on the north side of Kelmarsh Avenue on the corner with Meadow Way. It was first identified within the Council’s Core Strategy (2010) as a local centre. The centre meets the threshold requirement of 3 units to be classified as a local centre within the Borough.

8.2 The centre comprises of a Mercury News Shop (Use Class A1), Jane’s Hair & Beauty (Use Class A1) and Cuisine of India (Use Class A3) (see Table 14). Kelmarsh Avenue does not contain any comparison units. The Cuisine of India restaurant has a private car park. Additional parking is provided to the rear of the other units and can be accessed off Kelmarsh Avenue. A bus stop is located directly in front of the Kelmarsh Avenue shops.

8.3 The survey undertaken in 2017 indicated that the total number of units had not changed within the past 5 years, as have the uses of the units.

Table 13 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 1 33.33%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 1 33.33%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 1 33.33%

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 0 0.00%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 3 100.0%* * Due to rounding, the total is actually 99.99%

Table 14 – Description of units identified

Changes to Street Street Name of Business Use Class business/use Number Name Premises Type 2017 class in last 5 years Kelmarsh Jane’s Hair 38 Hairdressers A1 No Change Avenue and Beauty Kelmarsh Mercury 42 Newsagent A1 No Change Avenue News Kelmarsh Cuisine of NA Restaurant A3 No Change Avenue India

Leisure, civic and community facilities

8.4 There are no leisure, civic or community facilities located within this local centre. There is however a Primary School within approximately a 5 minute walk, north of the centre.

Public transport

8.5 The 47A, 49 and 49B Arriva bus services all serve this Centre and provide regular daily services into Leicester City every 20 minutes. It takes approximately 25 minutes to get to the centre of Leicester City from this location by bus. The nearest rail connection is 1.7 miles (35 minute walk) to the west, in South Wigston.

9. LITTLE HILL SHOPPING PARADE, WIGSTON

Overview of centre

9.1 Little Hill Local Centre, on Launceston Road in Wigston, is a local centre situated in the south of the Borough and is surrounded by residential in every direction. The centre is located to the south west of Wigston Town Centre. The centre is located on the north-east side of Launceston Road, at the junction with Amesbury Road. Although relatively small in size, this centre is very well used by its local population. The centre is approximately 1 mile south (20 minutes walk) of Wigston Town Centre and was first identified in the Council’s Core Strategy as a Local Centre.

9.2 There were a total of six units within the designated centre area at the time of the 2017 survey (see Table 15). The centre comprises of a Today’s Local (Use Class A1), Little Hill Fish Bar (Use Class A5), EVO Tanning (Use Class Sui Generis), Little Hill Pharmacy (Use Class A1), Select Convenience including Bargain Booze (Use Class A1) and a small Co-op foodstore (483 sq. m gross / 322 sq. m net) (Use Class A1) (see Table 16). The Co-op foodstore has a private car park. There is also a car park to front of the other units, which is well used. A bus stop is located directly to the front of units also.

9.3 The changes that have taken place over the past 5 years are; the change of use of Evo Tanning (Use Class Sui Generis) from Serenity Hair, and the change of both Little Hill Pharmacy and Select Convenience to occupying two units, due to recent expansions. Select Convenience also incorporates a sub-post office which provides a valuable community resource to the local population. All of the changes are illustrated below in Table 16.

Table 15 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 3 50.00%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 1 16.67%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 1 16.67%

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 1 16.67%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 6 100.00%* * Due to rounding, the total is actually 100.01%

Table 16 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years Launceston Today’s Convenience NA A1 No Change Road Local Store Midlands Launceston Convenience NA Co- A1 No Change Road Store Operative Launceston Little Hill Hot Food 1 A5 No Change Road Fish Bar Takeaway Change (Serenity Launceston Evo Sui Hair Salon A1- 2 Tanning Salon Road Tanning Generis Evo Tanning- Sui Generis)

Little Hill Change (Vacant- Launceston 3-4 Pharmacy Chemist A1 Little Hill Road Ltd Pharmacy A1) Convenience Change (Little Hill Select Launceston Store (Inc Post Pharmacy A1- 5– 6 Convenienc A1 Road Office & Bargain Select e Booze) Convenience- A1)

Leisure, civic and community facilities

9.4 There is no specific leisure, civic or community facility uses within this centre, however there is a wide selection of schools within a 10 minute walk both to the south-east and also the north-west of the Little Hill Local Centre. There is also a church, recreational ground and small community facility nearby.

Public transport

9.5 The 47, 47A, 48 and 48A Arriva bus services operate circular routes that frequently pass along Launceston Road in both directions and stop outside Little Hill Local Centre. This service provides local residents and users of the centre with a reliable method of accessing Leicester City Centre and other parts of the Borough.

9.6 The nearest rail connection is approximately 2 miles (40 minute walk) to the north- west in South Wigston.

10. QUEEN’S DRIVE, WIGSTON

Overview of centre

10.1 Queens Drive Local Centre in Wigston is situated centrally within the Borough, surrounded by residential in every direction. Queens Drive is located to the west of Wigston Town Centre and is roughly equidistant from Wigston Town Centre and South Wigston District Centre. A large industrial estate is located close by to the west. The local centre is located on the east-side of Queens Drive on the corner with West Avenue. This centre was first identified as a Local Centre within the Council’s Core Strategy. Despite its size, this centre plays an important role in the community and benefits from having a small number of free parking spaces directly to the front of the units, parallel with the street. The Spar convenience store also has a cash- point which provides a useful local community resource. The Queens Drive Local Centre also meets the threshold requirement of 3 units to be classified as a Local Centre within the Borough.

10.2 Queens Drive has three units within the designated area (see Table 17). The centre comprises of a Spar (Use Class A1), Essential Cuts (Use Class A1) and Andy’s Fish Bar (Use Class A5) (see Table 18). The centre does not contain any comparison retail units. Parking is on-street only; however, parking seemed plentiful at the time of the 2017 survey. A bus stop is located directly outside the fish bar along West Avenue. The number and composition of units has remained the same over the past 5 years, despite the Londis (Use Class A1) being replaced by Spar (Use Class A1).

Table 17 – Local Centre survey of uses

Types of Uses Total No. Units % of Total

A1 Convenience 1 33.33%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 1 33.33%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food 1 33.33% Takeaways

A4 Drinking Establishments 0 0.00%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 0 0.00%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0.00%

Total 3 100.00%*

* Due to rounding, the total is actually 99.99%

Table 18 – Description of units identified

Changes to Street Street Name of Business Use Class business/use Number Name Premises Type 2017 class in last 5 years Queens Andy’s Fish Hot Food NA A5 No Change Drive Bar Takeaway Queens Essential 51 Hairdressers A1 No Change Drive Cuts Change Queens Convenience 47-49 Spar A1 (Londis A1- Drive Store Spar A1)

Leisure, civic and community facilities

10.3 There are currently no specific leisure, civic or community uses located within this centre. There is a wide selection of schools and nurseries within a 10 minute walk both to the south and also the west of Queens Drive Local Centre though. There is also a recreational ground (Aylestone Lane Park) and small community facility nearby (Central Avenue Christian Church) also.

Public transport

10.4 The 49A Arriva bus service operates a circular route that frequently passes along West Avenue (bus stops are adjacent to Queens Drive) in both directions. This service provides local residents and users of the centre with a reliable method of accessing Leicester City Centre and Wigston Town Centre. The nearest rail connection is 1 mile (20 minute walk) west in South Wigston.

11. GLOUCESTER CRESCENT, SOUTH WIGSTON

Overview of centre

11.1 Gloucester Crescent Local Centre, South Wigston is located in the western part of the Borough of Oadby and Wigston. Gloucester Crescent is located to the north of South Wigston District Centre. It was first defined in the Council’s Core Strategy as a Local Centre. The centre is located on the north side of Gloucester Crescent and is parallel to Sussex Road.

11.2 A total of 9 units were accounted for in the 2017 survey (see Table 19). The centre comprises of a small standalone Sainsbury’s Local foodstore (444 sq. m gross / 195 sq. m net) (Use Class A1), Olympus Fish Bar (Use Class A5), News & Booze (Use Class A1), Royal Garden (Use Class A5), Jannines (Use Class A3), Milners (Use Class A1), His / Her Hair Boss (Use Class A1), Safe Ten Solaris (Use Class Sui Generis) and The Fairfield Inn (Use Class A4). The centre does not contain any comparison retail units. On-street parking is available directly to the front and side of the units along Gloucester Crescent; and parking was well-used at the time of the 2017 survey. A bus stop is located outside the Sainsbury’s Local foodstore. A large green space is located to the north of the Sainsbury’s Local foodstore. The Fairfield public house is located directly to the east of the Sainsbury’s Local foodstore. The local centre has been extended to include the public house and its car park, as recommended in the NLP (2016) Retail Capacity Study.

11.3 Two changes that have emerged in this centre recently are, His / Her Hair Boss (Use Class A1) occupying a previous hairdressers (Hell’s Razor) and Safe Ten Solaris (Use Class Sui Generis) replacing a previously vacant unit (see Table 20). All of the units were occupied at the time of the 2017 survey. This centre is surrounded by both residential dwellings and industrial employment uses. For this reason, the majority of the local centre’s businesses sell everyday consumer items such as food, beverages and takeaway food which cater for the local community’s everyday basic needs.

Table 19 – Local Centre survey of uses

Total No. Types of Uses % of Total Units

A1 Convenience 3 33.33%

A1 Comparison 0 0.00%

A1 Services 1 11.11%

A2 Financial & Professional Services 0 0.00%

A3 & A5 Restaurants, Cafes & Hot Food Takeaways 3 33.33%

A4 Drinking Establishments 1 11.11%

B1 Business 0 0.00%

C1 Hotel 0 0.00%

D1 Non-Residential Institutions 0 0.00%

Sui Generis 1 11.11%

Other (Residential Dwellings C3) 0 0.00%

Vacant 0 0%

Total 9 100.00% * Due to rounding, the total is actually 99.99%

Table 20 – Description of units identified

Changes to Use Street Street Name of business/use Business Type Class Number Name Premises class in last 5 2017 years Unit 8, Shire Gloucester Sainsbury’s Convenience A1 No Change Court Crescent Local Store Unit 7, Shire Gloucester Jannines Café Café A3 No Change Court Crescent Unit 6, Shire Gloucester Hot Food Royal Garden A5 No Change Court Crescent Takeaway Unit 5, Shire Gloucester Milners Bakery A1 No Change Court Crescent Bakery Change (Hell’s Unit 4, Shire Gloucester His/Her Hair Hairdressers A1 Razor- His/Her Court Crescent Boss Hair Boss)

Unit 3, Shire Gloucester News & Newsagents & A1 No Change Court Crescent Booze Off-Licence Unit 2, Shire Gloucester Safe Ten Sui Change (Vacant- Tanning Salon Court Crescent Solaris Generis Safe Ten Solaris) Unit 1, Shire Gloucester Olympus Fish Hot Food A5 No Change Court Crescent Bar Takeaway Gloucester The Fairfield NA Public House A4 No Change Crescent Inn

Leisure, civic and community facilities

11.4 There are no specific leisure, civic or community uses within the centre, albeit a public house. There are however a number located close by, including is a Nursery, Primary School and a High School, all within a 10 minutes walking distance of this centre. There is also an abundance of open space within a 10 minutes walk to both the north and west.

Public transport

11.5 The Arriva bus service (No. 49) from Leicester City Centre to South Wigston passes by the Local Centre on Gloucester Crescent and stops at the bus stops outside The Fairfield Pub, on both sides of the road. The nearest rail connection is 0.5 miles (10 minute walk) to the south at South Wigston.

ANNEX 1

LOCAL CENTRES

Local Centres include a range of small shops of a local nature, serving a small catchment. Typically, Local Centres might include, amongst other shops, a small supermarket, a newsagent, a sub-post office and a pharmacy. Other facilities could include a hot-food takeaway and a launderette.

DESCRIPTIONS OF TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT

Convenience shopping – Convenience retailing is the provision of everyday essential items, including food, drinks, newspapers, medicines and confectionary.

Comparison shopping – Comparison retailing is the provision of items not obtained on a frequent basis. These include clothing, footwear, household and recreational goods etc.

Service – This is the provision of a service, for example, hairdresser, dry cleaner, solicitor, mini cab office, insurance broker, doctor’s surgery and estate agent etc.

Catering – Includes public houses, restaurants, takeaways, cafes and nightclubs.

Vacant – Units which are deemed not to be occupied, but would be suitable for a retail use.

Sui Generis - Latin expression, literally meaning of its own kind or unique in its characteristics.

USE CLASS ORDER

The Use Classes Order defines shop uses and other uses which are considered appropriate in shopping areas. A guide to the Use Classes is set out below.

Use Class Description Order Class A1 – Shops and Factory Outlets, Post Offices, Travel and Ticket Agents, Shops Sandwich Bars and Pasties Shops, Hairdressers, Funeral Directors and Undertakers, Dry Cleaners, Pet Shops, Internet Cafes, Kitchen and Bathroom Showrooms, Video Rental, Pharmacies and Off Licences etc. Class A2 – Bookmakers and Betting Offices, Banks and Building Societies, Bureau de Financial and Change, Estate Agents, Job Centres, Recruitment Agencies, Share Trading Professional Shops, Citizens Advice Bureau, Print and Copy Shops, Key Cutting and Services Shoe Repairs, Commercial Photographers etc. Class A3 – Restaurants and Cafes (for the sale of food and drink for consumption on Restaurants and the premises whereas Class A1 is for consumption off the premises). Cafes Class A4 – Public Houses, Bars and Wine Bars etc. Drinking Establishments Class A5 – Hot Takeaways and Drive Through Premises.

Food Takeaways Class B1 – Offices, Research and Development, Studios, Laboratories, Hi Tech and Business Light Industry. (Covers a use which can be carried out in any residential area without detriment to the area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, etc.) Class B2 – All forms of manufacture and process production. General Industry Class B8 – Wholesale Warehouses, Distribution Centres, Open and Covered Storage, Storage and Repositories. Distribution Class C1 – Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Guest Houses, Inns, Motels and Halls of Hotels and Residence (intended for situations where no significant element of care is Boarding Houses provided). Class C2 – Residential Schools, Colleges and Training Centres, Hospitals and Residential Convalescent Nursing Homes, Hospices, Children’s’ Homes, Seminaries Institutions and Convents. Class C3 – Dwellings, Houses, Apartments, Bed-sits, Alms Houses, Sheltered Dwelling Houses Housing, Holiday Lets, Chalet Homes, Time Shares & Serviced Apartments. Class D1 – Non Schools, Colleges, Universities, other places of education, Crèches, Day Residential Nursery, Day Centre, Clinic, Health Centre, Dental Surgery, Consulting Institutions Room, Art Gallery (other than for sale or hire), Museum, Public Library, Reading Room, Church, Mosque, Temple, Shrine, other places of worship or religious instruction, Civic and Community Halls, Exhibition Halls, Conference and Training Centres etc. Class D2 – Adventure Playground, Cinemas, Music and Dance Halls, Concert Hall, Assembly and Bingo Halls, Sports Halls, Swimming Baths, Skating Rinks, Gymnasium, Leisure Casino, Tennis Courts, Cricket Ground, Football Pitches, Golf Courses, Driving Ranges, Scout Huts, Working Men’s Clubs, Freemasons Lodges, other indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities not involving motorised vehicles or firearms etc. Sui Generis – A Garages, Car Showrooms, Retail Warehouses, Night Clubs, Theatres, term referring to Amusement Arcades, Hostels, Car and Van Hire, Car Auction, Petrol Filling a class on its Stations, Motorway Service Areas, Haulage Yards, Demolition and Waste own not falling Transfer Stations, Scrap Yards, Shooting Range, Go-Kart Tracks, Kennels, into specific Launderettes, Garden Centre or Nursery, Veterinary Clinic & Tanning classes listed Studios etc. above.