East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy 2005/06

Data Analysis
4.62 The paucity of information on retailing and
leisure contained in the local authority monitoring
questionnaires was a problem identified in the
previous AMR. It is pleasing to note that an increased
number of authorities have been able to supply
some information on this issue this year and this is
presented in Tables 4.20 and 4.21. Despite this, the
information from the questionnaires remains partial
with many local authorities being unable to provide
any data making meaningful analysis difficult.
4.63 It has only been possible to once again use the
information provided in the 2004/05 monitoring
report referring to the 2002 IGGI data that looked at
the distribution of land in town centres. It has not
been possible to analyse the change in the
distribution of town centre land.
Policy Commentary
4.64 Despite some progress since the last AMR, the
paucity of information about retail and leisure
developments in the East Midlands continues to
hamper a realistic assessment of the success of this
policy and the extent to which the requirements of
the sequential test for the location of such facilities
have been satisfied.
4.65 Those authorities that have not already done so
are again urged to put in place systems and practices
to ensure that the sequential location of proposed
and developed retail and leisure facilities can be
reported upon more accurately in future AMRs.
4.66 From the limited available data on the location
of retail developments supplied by the local
authorities, 74% of commitments and 84% of
developments completed or under construction
were located within city, town, district and local
centres thereby promoting their vitality and viability
as advocated by the policy.
4.67 The proposed expansion of Nottingham’s
Broadmarsh Centre is a prime example of city centre
retail development, while Derby’s Eagle Centre
extension will provide an additional 48,000 square
metres of floorspace. Both schemes will significantly
enhance city centre retail vitality and viability while
permission also exists for the redevelopment of
Derby’s bus station into a major leisure destination. In
addition, Derby Cityscape, Derby’s Urban
Regeneration Company, continues to work to bring
forward schemes, such as the ‘Friar Gate Studios’
creative industries development.
4.68 An example of a retail development to improve
the vitality and viability of a district centre is the
long-awaited start of construction work in Matlock in
Derbyshire which will provide housing and a town
centre relief road as well as a new supermarket.
4.69 In Northamptonshire there is a recognised
need to improve the retail offer of the county and
reduce leakage.There is a strong policy push for
Northampton to become a regional centre in its own
right, as part of MKSM growth plans.
4.70 Leicestershire County Council, through the
Leicestershire Rural Partnership, provides grants for
retailers under the Living and Working Over the Shop
grant scheme as part of the Market Towns Initiative.
The Market Towns Initiative also provides a
comprehensive development programme to
promote the economic wellbeing of market towns
and rural centres.
Policy 24: Regional Priorities for Rural
Diversification
Local authorities and Sub-Regional Strategic
Partnerships should work together to promote
the continued diversification and further
development of the rural economy
Target: Increase in new business start ups and new
jobs
Indicators:
• Number of new business start ups
• New jobs created
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