Untitled - Cork City Council

Cork Strategic Retail Study
6.99 From our knowledge of the evolution of toy retailers in Ireland the Retail Park format
has been the catalyst for the development of this trade and a key factor in the
development of competition. Prior to the emergence of the retail park format, toy
retailing in the Republic as a stand alone retail trade had virtually disappeared, except
for handful of very small specialist hobby focused “momma and poppa” style stores
and a very few 50-175 square metre toy stores and seasonal offerings by leading
supermarket and department store groups. Thus the emergence of toy retailers in
Retail Parks is largely a “new” form of retailing which is not displacing activity from
town centres. However, this is not to say that there should be unrestricted promotion
of toys sales in Retail Parks. In the Cork context we recommend that the size of store
be limited to a maximum of 2,000 square metres gross and that only one store should
be allowed in a Retail Park. Toy stores should not be permitted in developments of
less than 10,000 square metres (gross). This will allow current market requirements to
be met without encouraging an excessive scale of provision.
6.100 In relation to sports goods we recognise that of the goods sold from these stores, much
of the merchandise is not in the nature of “bulky goods” and could just as equally be
sold in a downtown or high street location. Therefore, significant restrictions should
apply to this use in retail parks, but which allow the sale of certain types of sports
requiring the type of retail space available in Retail Parks, in order to be viable, i.e.
golf, sailing, adventure sports etc.
6.101 We therefore recommend that sports goods outlets should only be permitted in Retail
Parks where the predominant sales are those of (non apparel) sports equipment and
subject to restrictions. Firstly, that no more than 15% of the floor or wall space of any
such store can be devoted to the sale of general sports apparel (including footwear).
“General sports apparel” shall exclude specialist apparel or footwear which is specific
to the primary sports theme to which the store is devoted. Secondly, that no outlet
shall be permitted in excess of 2,000 square metres gross. Thirdly, sports good stores
should not be permitted in developments of less than 10,000 square metres (gross).
6.102 Finally, in order to ensure that Retail Parks incorporate a high proportion of traditional
bulky goods such as DIY, furniture, carpets and so on it is appropriate to limit the
proportion of total space within a Retail Park which is devoted to the sale of computers,
toys and sports goods. Taking account of evidence elsewhere and the requirements of
the market we recommend that no more than 3,500 square metres gross, or 20 per
cent of the total size of a Retail Park if a Retail Park is less than 15,000 square metres
gross in size, be devoted to the sale of computers, toys or sports goods.
6.103 The intention of these size caps for Cork is that for a full scale Retail Guidelines Retail
Park of 15,000 square metres gross, then a maximum of 3,500 square metres gross
should be devoted to computers, toys and sports goods. In addition, within this overall
size cap no toys or sports good store should exceed 2,000 square metres. Clearly it
would not be possible to satisfy the overall size cap if two stores of 2,000 square
metres each are proposed.
6.104 For smaller Retail Parks of less than 15,000 square metres the maximum size cap will
be dictated by the 20 per cent limit – i.e if a Retail Park of 12,000 square metres gross
is proposed than the maximum allowable quantum of floorspace for computers, toys
and sports goods will be 2,400 square metres gross. For Retail Parks less than 10,000
square metres toys and sports goods stores should not be allowed.
Town Centre Management
6.105 Town Centre Management is necessary to develop towns that are attractive to shop,
live, work and spend leisure time in. It is important to maximize the various town centre
uses in a safe, accessible and effective way, it sets out clear objectives and achievable
action for town improvement through a partnership of key stakeholders, sharing
aspirations, expertise and resources to create a holistic plan to meet local needs and
strengthen regional interests.
Roger Tym & Partners with Simon Clear & Associates
March 2008 54