Retail Study

This is a comprehensive appraisal of retail activity and the town centres in the Lewes District, together with recommendations for appropriate policies to be embodied in the Local Development Framework. It's by GVA Grimley, commissioned by Lewes District Council and published in March 2005.

GVA Grimley was appointed by Lewes District Council in December 2004 to prepare a retail and leisure study for the District to enable a review of the policies, proposals and approach of the adopted Lewes District Local Plan.

The purpose of the independent study was to guide and inform retail and leisure planning in the District, to provide a technical basis for preparing the Local Development Framework and to provide a sound and objective basis upon which to asses retail and leisure planning applications.

Lewes District Council’s requirements for the study included:

• An assessment of each centre’s expected economic growth, or decline, and expenditure
  patterns;
• An assessment of the overall need for additional retail and leisure floorpsace, along with other key town centre uses, for each centre within the District, having regard to both qualitative and quantitative factors and the ongoing vitality and viability of each centre;
• The identification of deficiencies or gaps in retail and leisure provision within each town;
• An assessment of the capacity of the existing centres to accommodate new development,
  including consideration of the requirement to extend or consolidate existing centres;
• An assessment of the accessibility of the town centres both by private car and alternative modes of transport and the subsequent economic implications;

Makes interesting reading, especially in the context of the proposed Tesco expansion - no mention of the Phoenix Quarter though.

Click here to download/view the full report.