News Archive 2010

Retail Now Online Conference Jun 2010
A free-to-attend Property Week online conference and exhibition on June 29th and 30th looked at the future for high streets, shopping centres, retails parks and supermarkets

Town Centre retailing reports Mar 2010
Recent research by Verdict reports a record decline in town centre retail sales in 2009, losing out to online and out-of-centre, a trend is predicted to continue.

The Local Data Company's Openings & Closures Report 2009 suggests independent retailer numbers have grown while multiples have barely changed.

However the Retail Think Tank predicts more turbulence ahead in 2010.

CONSULTATION: CLG Statistics Feb 2010
CLG consulted on possible changes to planning and land use statistics. In particular, options for the frequency of publication and coverage of Town Centre and Retail and Commerical & Industrial Floorspace statistics are proposed. The consultation closed on April 14th 2010

Conservative Planning green paper Feb 2010
The Conservatives have launched their planning green paper 'Open Source Planning'. Retail issues are specifically dealt with on page 19 but see the full document for proposals of wider relevance.

Lib-Dem town centres policy Feb 2010
The Liberal Democrats have released their town centres policy document 'Vibrant Local High Streets'.

EVENT Secondary Centres Seminar Mar 2010
BCSC held an evening seminar in London on March 23rd to discuss the issues raised by their recent report on the Impact of the Recession on Secondary Shopping Centres.

EVENT Saving Britain's High Streets Mar 2010
A summit in Birmingham on March 18th organised by Retail Week buildt on the BRC's 21st Centure High Streets report and the magazine's own Manifesto for the High Street, bringing together a diverse range of high-profile speakers to look at how the decline of centres can be reversed.

Diversity Briefing Note Feb 2010
The latest in our series of Briefing Notes looks at retail diversity. The Association of Convenience Stores have also recently published a report on this topic - see their press release for details.

PPS4 Workshop materials Feb 2010
Materials from a recent event held in London rolling out the new PPS4 are now available to view: presentations by Nick Ward of CLG on the PPS itself and Chris Goddard of GVA Grimley on the Practice Guidance, along with a summary of points raised in smaller group discussions.

Retail Vacancy Briefing Note Jan 2010
A timely Briefing Note, prepared by the Institute for Retail Studies at the University of Stirling, considers patterns of retail vacancies.

Making Public Data public? Jan 2010
Recent welcome initiatives by central Government and also the Greater London Authority aim to make more of their data more easily available to all. There isn't too much new directly relevant data as yet but both sites are in their early stages and should develop. See also CLG's new Places Database