Shopping expert calls for ‘level playing field’ (From York Press)

Shopping expert Mary Portas calls for ‘level playing field’

10:00am Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Community stadium news By Julie Hayes, Business editor

Mary Portas

QUEEN of Shops Mary Portas’ review of British high streets has added more fuel to the fire of opposers to the expansion of Monks Cross in York.

The report included a chapter on “Levelling the playing field” and Portas made recommendations to prioritise town centres over out-of-town shopping.

She said: “For the large retailers it is easier, cheaper and more flexible to develop out of town, or on the edge of town, rather than on our high streets. And for shoppers out-of-town centres offer convenience, value and choice. So out-of-town retail has been growing at the expense of our high streets and in many instances has displaced our high streets.”

She said that any new out of town developments should have to get exceptional sign off from the Secretary of State.

Frank Wood, chairman of York Retail Forum, said the restriction of out of town shopping was already a Government policy, but the report reinforced this.

Coun James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, said York already had a vibrant and exciting city centre, with street entertainers and special events such as York’s Festive Fayre.

“This and other initiatives are already in place here in York and we will certainly look into the viability of others. However we must remember that this is a generic national report and we must not forget York’s unique characteristics, including a strong retail offer, and the knowledge and expertise here in the city,” he said.

Adam Sinclair, of York Chamber of Trade, said: “Mary Portas specifically majors on the damage that out-of-town shopping has done and is doing to town centres across the country and talks about the unlevel playing field that we have been highlighting.”

He said he hoped the report would offer further objectivity when it came to making a decision on Monks Cross.

He said rather than being able to withstand the displacement of the high street, York was even more exposed because it is difficult to access and expensive to park. “We have 1,600 listed buildings in York, most of which are occupied and looked after by small independent retailers. They are more expensive to staff, occupy and heat than out of town retail units,” he said.

Graeme Chalk of Castle Piccadilly developer, Centros, said: “We welcome the report by Mary Portas and would support her recommendation that major out-of-town schemes should be reviewed by the Secretary of State. The council should also take the report into account in its consideration of the two applications by Oakgate and USS, which when combined would more than double the amount of out-of-town shopping at Monks Cross.”

Richard France, managing director of Oakgate Group, said the Portas Review made some very valid points.

He said: “A presumption in favour of town centre development is one, but this must be caveated that it should not prevent out of centre development where compliance can be demonstrated with long established national retail policies. Portas also suggests that, where out-of-centre retail development is considered appropriate, it should also deliver wider community and high-street benefits.

Our development will undoubtedly deliver such benefits in the form of a newcommunity stadium, local community amenities and a city centre incentives package.

“York’s retail is continuing to perform strongly with few empty shops, a great mix of independent and national retailers and substantial city centre retail demand. York’s unique blend of historical buildings and streetscapes provides visitors and consumers with an unrivalled background in which to shop and take in the many attractions this great city has to offer.”

Portas’s other recommendations include:

“Town Teams” - visionary, strategic and strong operational management teams for high streets Establish a new “National Market Day” where budding shopkeepers can try their hand at operating a low-cost retail business.

Remove unnecessary regulations so that anyone can trade on the high street unless there is a valid reason why not.

Business rate concessions for new local businesses Free controlled parking schemes.

Large retailers should support and mentor local businesses and independent retailers.