Support
Strategic Growth Options
Representation ID: 4820
Received: 17/02/2015
Respondent: Mr Sasha Millwood
Yes, provided that a "Town Centre First" approach focusses on quality over quantity of retail capacity, and reaching full occupancy before making more white-elephant developments. Supporting local traders, perhaps through affordable rents, is vital.
It is important to ensure that local traders are adequately supported so that they can make viable business in Brentwood town centre. This means affordable rents and support for developing a skilled workforce. At present, there are too many chains, too many takeaways, and too many vacant units. This means that, instead of encouraging further development of retail units, it is more important to consider their viability, and to develop residential units in town centres so as to have a nearby customer base. It would be preferable to develop William Hunter Way as a large block of flats (as I suggested in that consultation), and focus on reaching full occupancy in the Baytree Centre (which has *never* had full occupancy).