Town’s retail experience just gets better

Jul 23 2008 by Mike Birkett for The Journal

Alnwick is an interesting test-bed for the out-of-town versus town centre retail debate says Mike Birkett.

IN RECENT years planning policy, driven by central Government concerns that the viability of town and city centres was at risk because of out-of-town retailing, was almost draconian in the attempt to reverse the so-called impact of shopping outside the core area.

So how is Alnwick faring now that it has an out-of-town retail park? It is a small one but nevertheless significant in that it covers food via Sainsbury, just about everything through Homebase and there is also an Argos outlet.

With those three together, one would have thought the offer would be a challenge to central Alnwick.

On the contrary, seemingly Alnwick is thriving. On a recent visit, the town centre was as busy as I have ever seen it and strangely the Homebase car park was less than half full. Yes, it was a rare summer’s day but central Alnwick was, frankly, packed. This is a subjective assessment without the support of statistics but it seems clear that the town is thriving. The quality of town centre offer is good, stemming from a mix of national High Street brands and local, family-run, concerns.

Whether or not high-fuel costs are deterring shoppers from going further afield is open to conjecture. But with a largely rural catchment, Alnwick is drawing on shoppers who have some way to drive anyway so perhaps going to Alnwick is deemed far enough.

It is often said that out-of-town retail parks attract shoppers who then go on to shop in the adjoining town centre.

This could well be true in Alnwick experience, with shoppers returning to the town to see the new development and then moving on to the town centre.

This apparent reversal of an assumed trend that everyone wants to shop in greater Tyneside is good for the region’s market towns. If it is down to the rapidly increasing cost of driving, so be it.

If the benefit is increasing prosperity for retailers, the shopping experience will only get better.

The Argon Properties’ Towergate scheme will bring forward 52 residential units and open A1 retail space ranging from 1,800sqft to 10,340sqft with all three units capable of amalgamation to create a 26,918sqft unit. The scheme will be completed during the first quarter of 2009.

Mike Birkett is director of retail agency at Atisreal

PAGE TWO: Proving to be a real hot spot for businesses.