Comment
Local Plan Review: Preferred Approach 2016-2035
Representation ID: 988
Received: 04/02/2019
Respondent: The Hon Susan Barnes
Retail purchasing is changing very rapidly towards an online focused experience. There was only one department store in Chichester City centre which closed earlier this year. Overall footfall has decreased. High costs (rent/rates/maintenance) in the city centre lead to repeated store vacancies. To view the city centre as being able to cope with retail expansion would require an increase in vehicle parking facilities as there is currently insufficient frequent local alternative transport across the south coast. Proposals for expansion outside the city centre must again take into account increased traffic load.
Retail purchasing is changing very rapidly towards an online focused experience. There was only one department store in Chichester City centre which closed earlier this year. Overall footfall has decreased. High costs (rent/rates/maintenance) in the city centre lead to repeated store vacancies. To view the city centre as being able to cope with retail expansion would require an increase in vehicle parking facilities as there is currently insufficient frequent local alternative transport across the south coast. Proposals for expansion outside the city centre must again take into account increased traffic load.