Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Joint Retail and Leisure Study

Volume 1 - Final Report 29 September 2017

© 2018 Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd, trading as Lichfields. All Rights Reserved. Registered in , no. 2778116. 14 Regent’s Wharf, All Saints Street, London N1 9RL Formatted for double sided printing. Plans based upon Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright reserved. Licence number AL50684A 15622/PW/PW 15287111v1

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Joint Retail and Leisure Study

Contents

1.0 Introduction 1 Overview 1 Report Structure 2

2.0 Policy Context 3 National Policy 3 Local Policy 5

3.0 Current Provision and Trends 12 Introduction 12 Retail Trends 12 Expenditure Growth 12 Centres within and Surrounding the Study Area 17

4.0 Future Requirements for Retail Uses 23 Introduction 23 Methodology and Base Data 23 Existing Spending Patterns 28 Future Capacity for Convenience Goods Floorspace 31 Future Comparison Goods Floorspace Capacity 33 Qualitative Need for Retail Facilities 35

5.0 Requirements for Other Town Centre Uses 49 Introduction 49 Commercial Leisure Uses 49 Services, Restaurants, Bars and Takeaways 55 Conclusions 64

6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations 66 Convenience Goods Development 66 Comparison Goods Development 67 Food and Beverage 67 Future Monitoring 68

Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset Joint Retail and Leisure Study

Appendices

Appendix 1: Study Area Appendix 2: Convenience Assessment Appendix 3: Comparison Assessment Appendix 4: Food/Beverage Assessment Appendix 5: Cinema Assessment Appendix 6: Household Survey Results

Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset Joint Retail and Leisure Study

1.0 Introduction Overview

1.1 Lichfields has been commissioned by Bournemouth Borough Council and Christchurch and East Dorset Councils to prepare a Joint Retail and Leisure Study. The study has been prepared in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) relating to the need to ensure the vitality of town centres (paragraph 23), strategic priorities for retail, leisure and commercial development (paragraph 156) and the evidence to assess the need for economic development (paragraph 161). The study has also been prepared in accordance with the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).

1.2 The study will inform the review of the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Part 1 - Core Strategy (2014) and the Bournemouth Local Plan, Core Strategy (2012). Any evidence base study carried out at the current time needs to be cognisant of some significant recent changes: 1 Changes in policy - the NPPF heralded the biggest single change in national planning policy in a generation, and it raises the bar for local authorities in terms of the positive approach and a greater emphasis on the deliverability of plans. 2 Changes in the economy - there has been significant uncertainty relating to town centres and the retail sector, particularly following the EU Referendum vote. The study must adopt up-to-date and authoritative economic forecasts. 3 Changes in market - the above issues have had an impact on the commercial property market dynamics, both in terms of local demand and on the overall ability of developers and firms to access finance.

1.3 The key objective of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset Joint Retail and Leisure Study is to provide a robust and credible evidence base to inform the Councils’ work on the review of the Local Plans, taking into account changes since previous evidence was prepared. The updated Local Plans will reflect the emerging housing, employment, retail and leisure needs for the next 16 years, running up to 2033.

1.4 The NPPF states that local planning authorities should assess the quantitative and qualitative needs for land or floorspa