Our Town Centre
The National Picture
Stats
Government Response
Trends Retailers rationalising Multi channelling Internet Supermarkets
The Local Picture Footfall survey Public consultation on indoor market Visitor / shopper survey (Oct 2011) Business survey (Oct 2011) Information on premises ownership and availability
Our Town Centre
Source: CACI 2008 The wider drive time again shows strong representation of Wealthy Achievers highlighting the need for Wrexham’s retail centre to attract shoppers from a wide catchment
Town Centre Strategy 2008 – 2012 Delivering Retail Led Renaissance (CEDO/26/08)
The 5 C’s – Competition Differentiation from our competition Attracting investment New offer Unique Selling Point
The 5 C’s – Character Public realm Heritage/buildings Public works of art Improvements
The 5 C’s – Catchment Branding Place marketing Destination management
The 5 C’s – Choice Independents Multiples Key attractors Markets
The 5 C’s – Convenience Accessibility within the town Accessibility to the town Car Bike Bus Rail Walking
Strengths Good mix of retail (independent / national) Wide catchment area Car parking Compact town centre Active Town Centre Forum Active Nightsafe Radio partnership
Strengths Bus station Disabled access Good return for investors Eagles Meadow
Weaknesses Signage Railway station – not in ‘town’ Building stock is not purpose built retail Anti social behaviour Central Railway station poor environment High rents / rates Remote landlords / fragmented ownership
Opportunities Leisure growth in town centre (low cost) Increased events programme Hippodrome site Markets – growth Increase diversity of evening economy – restaurants Coach Towns Train local workforce
Threats Recession – under economy Internet Barriers to borrowing Negative perception Increase in retail outside town centre footprint Competition elsewhere Offices move to out of town locations
Next Steps The existing Town Centre Strategy and Action Plan (Retail Renaissance) The Review = September 2012 to March 2013 The priority areas that Scrutiny Committee could focus on The process of choosing which areas Scrutiny Committee actually focuses on
Simple Assessment Tool Clear Vision for Wrexham Town Centre Which issues should be scrutiny committee focus or ? How important are the issues? What are the issues? What are the evaluation criteria we should use to test the relative importance/issues
EVALUATION CRITERIA E WOULD HELP TO ATTRACT SHOPPERS (INCREASE FOOTFALL) A IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN B IMPROVES THE PERCEPTION AND/OR REALITY OF COMMUNITY SAFETY C IMPROVES ACCESSIBILITY D WOULD HELP ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO INVEST (REDUCE VOIDS) SCORING Very High = 4 High = 3 Low = 2 Very Low = 1 F WOULD HELP TO CREATE JOBS G INCREASE THE RANGE OF ACTIVITY IN THE TOWN CENTRE H IMPROVES THE RETAIL RANKING OF THE TOWN CENTRE
EXAMPLE ISSUESTEST AGAINST EVALUATION CRITERIA (A-H) SCORE Stop ‘boy racers’A = 2 B = 4 C = 1 D = 2 E = 2 F = 1 G = 1 H = 1 _____ 14 *Do this for each issue (add weighing to evaluation criteria if desired) and see which issues have the biggest impact – focus on these)