been continuously marketed for 12 months, with the exception of temporary uses.
Explanation
- Our centres now function as much more than a retail destination, providing a large range of services, facilities, employment and experiences for residents in an accessible location. The council wishes to ensure that this expanding role is encouraged, allowing a greater diversity of uses and therefore reducing the need to travel.
- The pandemic has shown that Stockport's centres need to be able to respond rapidly to changes in trends for leisure, retail and other commercial uses to ensure they can survive and compete. The Retail and Leisure Study Update 2022 suggests that centres should capitalise on their individuality and be able to diversify, becoming places to work, stay and live, not just to shop and eat or drink. It is important that our centres are complementary and do not compete with each other and so the emphasis will be on maximising what is unique about each place and its offer.
- Increasing the number of people living within and around the centres will help to generate the footfall necessary to support a good range of shops and services but it will be important that residential uses do not displace the essential retail, leisure, service, employment and community functions of the designated centres.
- The Economic Plan shows we have an ageing population in the suburban district centres, and the age group of 60 years or over are set to increase with implications for the function and role of centres as places to live, enjoy and provide supporting services.
- Art and cultural activities play an important role in providing a distinct identity to settlements and places alongside being important contributors to the local economy. Evidence in the Retail and Leisure Study 2019 finds there to be no requirement for additional arts and cultural facilities as demand is likely to be limited given that only 8% of trips to these facilities are retained in the borough and the borough's close proximity and easy access to Manchester city centre. As such, the recommendation is to keep visitor numbers at high levels by enhancing our existing provision.
- Many of the borough's centres include shopping precincts in private ownership and the council will seek to work positively with these stakeholders to achieve the principles set out in this policy, both in terms of the daily operation and the long-term management of these important community assets.
- Well-managed pop ups and temporary uses can minimise vacancies and add to vibrancy, challenge online shopping experience whilst helping small businesses.
- Proposals will be required to satisfy other relevant policies in the Plan including: