The Leicester Retail Study will form part of the evidence base for the Local Development Framework. The study was carried out by CACI and Scott Wilson. With regard to the city centre the Study should be read in conjunction with an earlier report ‘Economic Analysis of the Leicester Retail Circuit’ (CACI, 2007).
The purpose of Study set out in the brief is to inform the Leicester LDF by:
(i) providing an estimate of new comparison and convenience retail floorspace required in Leicester for the period 2007-2017 (2007-2012, 2012-2017);
(ii) identifying deficiencies in the provision particularly of convenience floorspace at the local level;
(iii) auditing current centres, their disposition and ability to meet identified deficiencies; recommending solutions to meeting deficiencies;
(iv) providing an indication of possible need derived from New Growth point status and planned housing growth in the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy; and in the LRC Intervention areas.
The study considers:
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comparison floorspace needs principally for the City Centre;
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convenience floorspace needs: large format supermarkets (over 400 m² floorspace) or main food shopping;
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convenience floorspace needs: convenience stores (under 400 m²) or ‘top up’ or basket shopping.
Broadly the study concludes:
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A moderate requirement for additional new comparison floorspace in the city centre for the next ten years;
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The existing supermarkets have created a significant imbalance of trade in the city to the detriment of some areas, particularly the West Zone, and/or causing unsustainable travel patterns.
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A current need for a substantial level of new supermarket floorspace to both meet increasing population/expenditure and to address the imbalance of trade.
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A need for additional convenience stores in future years.
The main report and Annexes 1 and 2 are available to view and download.
Due to the size of the files the remaining technical Annexes are available on request
Please note that the version of the main report currently available has a number of typographical errors which are being corrected.
