ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON & CHELSEA RETAIL AND LEISURE NEEDS STUDY CL11416/PW/SPe July 2008 Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd 14 Regent’s Wharf All Saints Street Offices also in: London Cardiff N1 9RL Manchester T 020 7837 4477 Newcastle-upon-Tyne F 020 7837 2277 E [email protected] www.nlpplanning.com CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1 The Study..................................................................................................................... 1 Content of the Report................................................................................................... 1 2.0 OVERVIEW OF RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL LEISURE TRENDS........................... 3 Retail Trends................................................................................................................ 3 Leisure Trends ............................................................................................................. 5 3.0 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT.................................................................................. 6 National Policy ............................................................................................................. 6 The London Plan........................................................................................................ 13 Sub-Regional Planning Framework ........................................................................... 15 Local Planning Context .............................................................................................. 16 4.0 THE SHOPPING HIERARCHY AND CATCHMENT AREA...................................... 20 Shopping Centres in Kensington & Chelsea and the Surrounding Area.................... 20 Socio-Economic Characteristics within Kensington & Chelsea.................................. 23 5.0 HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ............................................................................................ 27 Survey Structure ........................................................................................................ 27 Food and Grocery Shopping...................................................................................... 28 Non-Food Shopping................................................................................................... 30 Internet Shopping....................................................................................................... 34 Leisure Activities ........................................................................................................ 35 Key Messages from the Household Survey Results.................................................. 37 6.0 TOWN CENTRE VISITORS SURVEY....................................................................... 39 Survey Structure ........................................................................................................ 39 Main Purpose for Visit to Each Centre....................................................................... 39 Intended Visitor Purchases ........................................................................................ 41 Mode of Travel ........................................................................................................... 43 Other Centres Visited................................................................................................. 43 Frequency of Shopping Trips..................................................................................... 45 What Visitors Like about Shopping in Each Centre ................................................... 45 Where Visitors Live .................................................................................................... 49 Key Messages from the On-Street Survey Results.................................................... 49 7.0 KNIGHTSBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SHOPPING CENTRE................................... 51 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 51 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation................................................................. 51 Accessibility and Movement....................................................................................... 55 Environmental Quality................................................................................................ 57 Summary of Knightsbridge’s Strengths and Weaknesses ......................................... 59 8.0 KING’S ROAD (EAST) MAJOR SHOPPING CENTRE ............................................ 61 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 61 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation................................................................. 61 Accessibility and Movement....................................................................................... 65 Environmental Quality................................................................................................ 67 Summary of King’s Road East’s Strengths and Weaknesses.................................... 69 LON2008/R11416 a 9.0 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET MAJOR SHOPPING CENTRE ................................ 71 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 71 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation................................................................. 71 Accessibility and Movement....................................................................................... 74 Environmental Quality................................................................................................ 76 Summary of Kensington High Street’s Strengths and Weaknesses .......................... 77 10.0 NOTTING HILL GATE DISTRICT SHOPPING CENTRE.......................................... 79 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 79 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation................................................................. 79 Accessibility and Movement....................................................................................... 82 Environmental Quality................................................................................................ 85 Summary of Notting Hill Gate’s Strengths and Weaknesses..................................... 87 11.0 FULHAM ROAD (WEST) DISTRICT SHOPPING CENTRE ..................................... 88 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 88 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation................................................................. 88 Accessibility and Movement....................................................................................... 91 Environmental Quality................................................................................................ 93 Summary of Fulham Road West’s Strengths and Weaknesses ................................ 94 12.0 FULHAM ROAD (EAST) DISTRICT SHOPPING CENTRE ...................................... 96 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 96 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation................................................................. 96 Accessibility and Movement....................................................................................... 99 Environmental Quality.............................................................................................. 102 Summary of Fulham Road East’s Strengths and Weaknesses ............................... 104 13.0 KING’S ROAD (WEST) DISTRICT SHOPPING CENTRE ...................................... 105 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 105 Accessibility and Movement..................................................................................... 108 Environmental Quality.............................................................................................. 110 Summary of King’s Road West’s Strengths and Weaknesses................................. 112 14.0 SOUTH KENSINGTON DISTRICT SHOPPING CENTRE ...................................... 114 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 114 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation............................................................... 114 Accessibility and Movement..................................................................................... 117 Environmental Quality.............................................................................................. 119 Summary of South Kensington’s Strengths and Weaknesses................................. 121 15.0 EARL’S COURT ROAD DISTRICT CENTRE ......................................................... 123 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 123 Mix of Uses and Occupier Representation............................................................... 123 Accessibility and Movement..................................................................................... 125 Environmental Quality.............................................................................................