Swale Borough Council Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment December 2018 Volume 1 of 2 – Main Report Insert Pictures WYG , 90 Victoria Street, Bris tol, BS1 6DP Tel: +44 (0) 117 9254393 Email: [email protected] www. wyg .com www.wyg.comwww.wy g.com creativecreati ve minds safe hands Contents 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Instruction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Structure of Study ..................................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 Planning Policy Context ................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Ensuring the Vitality of Town Centres Planning Practice Guidance ................................................................. 6 2.4 Local Planning Policy Context and Other Council Strategies .......................................................................... 7 2.5 Budget 2018 – The Government’s Plans to ‘Transform Town Centres’ ......................................................... 10 2.6 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 13 3.0 Current & Emerging Retail & Leisure Trends ................................................................................. 14 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Changing Retail Climate ........................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Continued Growth in Internet & Multichannel Retailing ............................................................................... 16 3.4 The Continued Rise of the Grocery Discounters ......................................................................................... 17 3.5 The Food and Drink Sector ....................................................................................................................... 19 3.6 Brexit ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 3.7 Potential Impact of Trends on Swale Borough Town Centres ...................................................................... 21 4.0 Original Market Research .............................................................................................................. 23 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 23 4.2 Telephone Household Survey ................................................................................................................... 23 5.0 Retail Patterns and Market Share Analysis ................................................................................... 25 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 25 5.2 Socio Demographic Context of the Council Area ......................................................................................... 25 5.3 Sub-Regional Centre Rankings .................................................................................................................. 27 5.4 Existing Retail & Leisure Provision in Swale Borough .................................................................................. 28 5.5 Surrounding Main Large Centres ............................................................................................................... 30 5.6 Shopping Patterns ................................................................................................................................... 34 5.7 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 44 6.0 Qualitative Assessment – Sittingbourne Town Centre Health Check ............................................ 45 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 45 6.2 Vitality and Viability Town Centre Health Check ......................................................................................... 45 6.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 54 7.0 Qualitative Assessment - Faversham Town Centre Health Check ................................................. 55 7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 55 7.2 Vitality and Viability Town Centre Health Check ......................................................................................... 55 7.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 62 8.0 Qualitative Assessment - Sheerness Town Centre Health Check .................................................. 63 8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 63 8.2 Vitality and Viability Town Centre Health Check ......................................................................................... 63 8.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 70 9.0 Qualitative Assessment – Local Centres ........................................................................................ 71 9.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 71 9.2 Summary of Local Centre Health Checks ................................................................................................... 71 10.0 Quantitative Retail Needs Assessment ......................................................................................... 73 10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 73 10.2 Retail Capacity ......................................................................................................................................... 73 10.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 83 11.0 Commercial Leisure Needs Assessment ....................................................................................... 84 11.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 84 11.2 Participation Leisure Activities ................................................................................................................... 84 11.3 Restaurant & Cafés/Coffee Shops ............................................................................................................. 86 11.4 Health and Fitness ................................................................................................................................... 89 11.5 Cinema ................................................................................................................................................... 90 11.6 Tenpin Bowling ........................................................................................................................................ 93 11.7 Bingo ...................................................................................................................................................... 94 11.8 Arts and Cultural Activities ........................................................................................................................ 95 12.0 Key Findings & Recommendations .............................................................................................. 98 12.1 Summary of Identified Need ..................................................................................................................... 98 12.2 Identified Demand from Operators/Businesses ........................................................................................ 101 12.3 Proposed Network of Centres ................................................................................................................. 101 12.4 Recommended Local Impact Threshold ................................................................................................... 103 12.5 Review of Town Centre Boundaries