Portobello Rd plan for North Laine?
From:
Derek Parkinson
Date:
May 16 13:34 UTC
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
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