Peterborough is experiencing a notable increase in new retail developments for the first time in several years with recently completed, unfinished and expected construction schemes out-stripping previous totals.

 

Over 9,000 square metres of new space in shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants (known as A1-A5 land use classifications) roughly equivalent to two to three mid-sized supermarkets was opened in Peterborough last year (2006/07).  Almost half of the increase (4,270 sq m) involved the completion of the second phase of the redevelopment of the Bretton Centre.

 

There are also outstanding planning permissions for a further 28,976 square metres of shop floor-space in existence, including new B&Q and Matalan stores currently under construction at Boulevard Retail Park (6,700 square metres), the on-going re-development of the Orton Centre (8,010 square metres), Brotherhood Retail Park (2,061 square metres) and a 2,700 square metre extension to the Asda store at Rivergate that has not yet been started.

 

The figure for outstanding plans at the end of March was 7,000 square metres more than the 2006 figure and at least 23,000 square metres higher than any year since 2003.  One partially completed development, for example, was the former Break for the Border club in Broadway where the Imperial Bento restaurant has opened.

 

In addition, a planning application is expected within weeks for a massive £350 million retail-led scheme alongside the existing Queensgate Centre in North Westgate, where work is expected to begin next year.

 

"These very encouraging figures demonstrate that Peterborough's retail economy is reasonably buoyant," said Councillor John Holdich, Cabinet member for housing, regeneration and economic development.  "Shopping, along with the new café-bar culture, is now considered one of the nation's most popular pastimes and we hope that the increased level of development activity that Peterborough is experiencing will attract more visitors to the city.

 

"However, the retail sector is just one area of the economy and the city council is continuing to work with Opportunity Peterborough to develop comprehensive proposals to stimulate further economic growth and employment opportunities."

 

There are five categories (A1 to A5) within the broad definition of 'retail' uses in planning terms, including shops, cafés, pubs, restaurants and premises such as banks and estate agent offices to which the public has direct access.  Within the city centre, in three out of the past four years there has been a reduction in shop floorspace balanced by increases in other retail uses, mainly cafés and bars.

 

This has resulted in a small (257 sq m) overall increase in retail floorspace in the city centre over the period from 2003 to 2007.

 

There have also been small increases in retail floorspace in local villages (963 sq m) and other rural areas (471 sq m).during 2001 - 2007

 

The figures compiled by Peterborough City Council's strategic growth and development team do not include changes in retail uses that did not require planning permission.  View the report via the web at www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-4383.