The future of retail planning and the UK's town centres

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Since 2007 the economic recession has had a dramatic impact on our city and town centres.  Falling retail sales, reduced consumer spending, increased business failures and rising vacancies have resulted in 'fragile' business, consumer and investor confidence.  All our town centres and businesses – large and small – have felt the full force of the economic storm to varying degrees.  At the same time the pipeline of new shopping centre schemes and retail developments across the country have slowed to a 'trickle'.

This Briefing & Workshop will assess the impact of the National Planning Policy Framework to date on plan-making and development control, and provide expert views on current and future impact of the Coalition Government's wide-ranging planning reforms on new retail and town centre development. 

Benefits of attending:

1. Understand the impact to date of the NPPF on plan-making
2. Question how the NPPF and the Coalition Government's planning reform agenda has effectively 'opened the door' for new edge and out-of-centre development?
3. Look at the main trends affecting retailing and what the future holds
4. Question what practical policy and financial initiatives can the public sector undertake to keep momentum going on regeneration projects and/or instigate new projects
5. Understand what lessons we can learn from elsewhere in terms of the design, branding and management of our town centre environments

 Who should attend?

• Local authority planners
• Retailers and leisure operators
• Investors and developers
• Planning consultants and surveyors
• Urban designers and architects
• Town centre managers
• Councillors and key town centre stakeholders

Programme:

9.00 Coffee and registration

9.30 Welcome and introduction by the Chair

Dr Steven Norris, Partner, Strategic Perspectives

9.40 Prospects for the UK economy and the retail sector

• What is the outlook for the UK economy: a lost decade?
• What are the prospects for growth in retail spending (comparison and convenience)
• Does the growth in Internet shopping signal the end for traditional shops?

Sunita Bali, Senior UK Economist, Experian

10.30 The National Planning Policy Framework

11.20 Coffee and networking

11.40 Current legal trends in retail policy and practice

• Overview of recent court and inspector decisions
• The application of the NPPF since March 2012
• The issue of quantitative and qualitative need
• The appraisal of impact assessments
• The approach to the Sequential approach with particular focus on Tesco v Dundee
• The overall assessment of retail proposals
• Future trends

Sasha White, Barrister, Landmark Chambers

12.30 Panel discussion

1.00     Lunch

2.00 Is your evidence base fit for purpose?

• How to carry out and interpret retail and town centre strategies.
• Retail capacity and impact assessments – a guide
• The sequential approach – a guide
• Reviewing, refreshing and using the evidence effectively

Dr Steven Norris

2.40 The key ingredients for creating successful markets

• Why markets are important to town centres - the Portas Report & NPPF
• How to revitalise failing markets?
• How to manage successful markets and events?

Allan Hartwell, Managing Director, Marketplace (Europe Ltd)

3.20     Making town centres happen: Grand Arcade, Cambridge case study

• Recent examples of successful new town centre development
• What has been the impact for existing centres?
• What lessons can be learnt for a new wave of retail development?
• What can local authorities do to promote new investment/development?

Brian Human

4.00 Panel discussion

4.20 Chair's closing comments

Dr Steven Norris

4.30 Close 

Please download the brochure and booking form here