Market Towns Issues and Recommendations
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February 2009 TOWN CENTRES AND RETAIL STUDY Volume 3: Market Towns Issues and Recommendations England & Lyle Ltd Chartered Town Planners Morton House Morton Road Darlington DL1 4PT Tel: 01325 469236 www.england-lyle.co.uk CONTENTS CONTENTS PART 1: CONTEXT 1. INTRODUCTION 9. MARKET WEIGHTON 2. MARKET TOWNS RESEARCH AND GOOD PRACTICE 10. POCKLINGTON 3. OVERVIEW OF KEY ISSUES IN MARKET TOWNS 11. SNAITH PART 2: ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS REPORTS 12. WITHERNSEA 4. BEVERLEY TOWN CENTRE MAPS 5. DRIFFIELD 6. HEDON APPENDIX 7. HORNSEA HEALTH CHECK INDICATORS AND FACTORS 8. HOWDEN 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION centres is complementary and will help to strengthen town centre provision within the East Riding of Yorkshire as a whole. The role of a centre is 1.1 In March 2008 England & Lyle were appointed, as sub-consultants to concerned with its position in the hierarchy; the function of a centre is Pell Frischmann, to undertake a Town Centres and Retail Study for East concerned with its local distinctiveness. Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) under the Council’s Framework Agreement with consultants. The study is jointly commissioned by the 1.5 Beverley and Driffield are Principal Town Centres in the hierarchy; the Council’s Forward Planning and Economic Development Services. The other towns, with the exception of Snaith, are District Centres acting as local overall aim of the study is to provide a robust and detailed basis for promoting service centres; Snaith has a more localised role as a Local Centre. the future prosperity, vitality and viability of the towns/service centres in the East Riding. The study reviews existing town centre/service centres and 1.6 All of the Issues and Recommendations reports have a common structure provides evidence to inform the preparation of the East Riding Local and content which is outlined in Section 3 of this report. Development Framework (LDF) and to develop a forward thinking development strategy for town centres in the East Riding. 1.2 The results of the study are contained in three reports. Volume 1 is the Main Study Report, supported by Appendices in Volume 2. The present report is Volume 3 which focuses on Issues and Recommendations for Market Town Centres in the East Riding. 1.3 Part 1 of this report sets out the Context for the Issues and Recommendations. It provides some background on market towns research and good practice nationally, highlighting lessons to be learnt from retail and town centre strategies which have been successful in other parts of the country. A summary is then made of the key issues from the findings of the Volume 1 report relating to the nine market towns in the East Riding. These key issues have been addressed in the more detailed assessment of Issues and Recommendations for each town. 1.4 Part 2 of the report considers Issues and Recommendations for each of the market towns – Beverley, Driffield, Hedon, Hornsea, Howden, Market Weighton, Pocklington, Snaith and Withernsea. Whilst the individual Issues and Recommendations reports have been developed specifically for each centre, they have been developed within the context of the hierarchy and the roles and functions identified within the study so that the development of these 2 2. BACKGROUND 2. MARKET TOWNS RESEARCH AND GOOD PRACTICE developing a specialist or a niche offer, improvements to streetscape and urban design, levels and types of business support and town centre management issues (including car parking provision and signage and Study Brief advice on the management of the evening / night time economy where relevant). 2.1 The Study Brief notes that the East Riding has a network of market and larger towns. Each town has a unique character and acts as a service centre for 2.4 The Brief indicates that recommendations should identify the town and a rural hinterland. The vitality and viability of the town centres is complementary strategies that will be beneficial to the East Riding of seen as a key element for developing the East Riding’s competitiveness as a Yorkshire. Recommendations should be made in the form of a prioritised business and visitor destination and as an attractive, well-serviced place to action plan with quantifiable measures identified appropriate to the size and live. Pressures from developments, changes in lifestyle and competition from function of the town and potential resources available. larger retail areas and the Internet have, and will have, an increasing impact on the vitality and viability of the towns. The independent retail and leisure 2.5 During the course of this study it has been agreed with Council Officers sector is regarded as an important element of the offer in all the towns. that it is not appropriate for this report to try to develop detailed action plans Equally, the requirements of national and regional multiples need to be for individual market towns. It is beyond the scope of the study to deal with all accommodated in ways that preserve the character of the existing town centres the issues and consultations that would need to be covered. The focus of the and are sensitive to local heritage and Conservation Area objectives. Brief for this report is to identify the main issues and set out broad recommendations for each town that can be used by the Council and its 2.2 The Council wishes to identify a role for each town and a range of partners in developing action plans in the future. measures for each town/service centre which will help to maintain and develop the role identified, whilst avoiding an undue detrimental effect on the Regeneration of Market Towns neighbouring towns. 2.6 Market towns have become the focus of many of the initiatives that have 2.3 The overall aim of the Town Centres and Retail Study is to provide a been developed in town centre regeneration in the UK in the last 20 years. The robust and detailed basis from which the Council, with the Local Strategic trends and challenges are well recognised and have been summarised in the Partnership, can develop a proactive, plan-led approach to promoting the Trends section of the Volume 1 report. Town centres are crucial to creating future prosperity, vitality and viability of the towns/service centres in East sustainable communities and the Government is committed to developing and Riding. It should: supporting successful, thriving, safer and inclusive communities, both urban 1. Identify other comparable towns in other parts of the UK and identify and rural. The Government’s key objective for town centres is to promote their examples of best practices where retail and town centre strategies have vitality and viability. been successful and lessons that could be learnt for East Riding’s market towns. 2.7 Market towns make a significant contribution to the economic, social 2. Make recommendations on how the management of the town centres and cultural life of the UK. They are a crucial element of rural life. They could be developed over time to meet their role and function e.g. provide the hub for employment, retail, professional and public services for 3 2. BACKGROUND communities living in and around the town. They also offer a centre for part of the planning process and through the implementation of regeneration community activities, leisure and tourism. Market towns enjoy a number of projects. This Section of the report refers to some of the ways in which local strengths and advantages. They often have a high quality built environment authorities have been able to achieve success in promoting market towns. and strong historical roots. Many have a core of concerned local residents who are willing to take action. Each market town is unique in its character, each Market Towns in the Yorkshire and Humber Region using its strengths to overcome the challenges posed by social and economic change. 2.11 Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Market Towns (RMT) programme was launched in 2002 as a 10-year plan to support sustainable rural towns in 2.8 Some traditional town centres, including market towns are prospering Yorkshire and Humber. As one of Yorkshire Forward’s flagship projects, but others are in decline. Ways need to be found to revitalise declining centres. RMT aims to ensure that the region’s ‘rural capitals’ are places where people Success means retaining their roles as the heart of their community and want and are able to live, work, invest and visit. The objective of the RMT important sources of jobs, as well as shops and services. Some towns have programme is to generate sustainable development through: found ways of improving their shopping offer, diversifying their attractions, • development of ‘Town Teams’ to drive the RMT process forward, and coping with the car, creating a pride of place, and resourcing local initiatives. • masterplans for the implementation of projects. Experience shows that improving quality rather than simply expanding the range of attractions is the key to successful town centre regeneration. 2.12 To date the RMT programme has focused on more than 20 market towns in the Region. In the East Riding the programme includes the Howdenshire 2.9 A number of bodies and organisations have been formed to promote area, comprising Howden and Gilberdyke. town centre regeneration with a particular emphasis on traditional centres including market towns. 2.13 Beverley, Driffield and Withernsea benefitted from support under • Action for Market Towns is a membership organisation dedicated to various rounds of the Government’s Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) promoting the vitality and viability of small towns through an integrated scheme. In Beverley, Driffield and Withernsea dedicated support to the approach including providing services and advice for market towns, and Renaissance Partnerships ceased at the end of the SRB programmes, but supporting a network for market towns nationally.