All posts in the topic Portobello Rd plan for North Laine? (Short link)
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/generalnews/display.var.2271113.0.town_hall_plan_to_save_small_shops.php Town hall plan to save small shops A radical set of policies which will protect small independent shops from the threat of major high street chains is bring considered. A delegation of officials from Brighton and Hove City Council and representatives from North Laine and the Lanes have visited London to discuss an innovative scheme to ward off identikit shopping stretches. The two Brighton shopping hotspots, which have a national reputation for independent stores, could become "special district centres" with regulations enshrined in the planning blueprint. The council would protect the character and appeal of the two districts with specific planning policies, such as limiting the size of shops. The only street in the country so far to have received this treatment is Portobello Road renown for its antique market. North Laine and the Lanes have come under increasing pressure in recent years from ballooning rents and the spread of chains. Concern has also been raised that the number of shops is declining in favour of coffee haunts. The council invited the North Laine Traders Association to London to discuss the scheme with bosses at Chelsea and Kensington. The Commission on Retail Conservation, set up in 2005 after Tesco acquired a string of different convenience stores, compiled a report for the West London authority including 54 measures to protect independent shops. Of these, 45 were adopted. Under proposals adopted by the London borough, developers will be forced to include "affordable retail", ensure smaller shops are not knocked through, and link rents to profits where possible. Officers from Brighton and Hove are analysing the work carried out by Chelsea and Kensington and considering whether these rules can apply to the city. Traders in Brighton said linking rent to profits would mean artists could compete with major coffee chains for space. Peter Stocker, of the North Laine Traders Association, said: "We want to try to make rents a little bit fairer. "We are seeing enormous rent price increases while there are a lot of shops on the market, which is not a good sign, and we do need a bit of help "If you have got three shops which are empty we would like to stop them being knocked together into one. "With all the developments around us, space is likely to be even more of a premium in the future and we are trying to maintain the small units and workshop spaces." Mr Stocker, who was among representatives to visit Kensington, said discussions were at an early stage but praised the council for its desire to investigate the proposal. 3:22pm Wednesday 14th May 2008 By Lawrence Marzouk, Local Government Correspondent Back
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