6.45 Over the last decade, or so, there has been a decline in the retail function of many established town and local centres. Despite this decline, there has been a tendency to resist the change of use of shops to other uses such as banks, building societies and restaurants. If these centres are to become vibrant and sustainable, they should contain not just shops but also a wide range of other uses, including residential developments on upper floors. In order to respond properly to all of the issues facing these centres, comprehensive measures, similar to those being undertaken in the City Centre, need to be implemented.
Town Centre in Need of Improvement
6.46 Working in partnership with retailers, other development interests, private investors, public agencies, infrastructure providers and the community, the Council will produce a series of Centre Action Plans, (CAPs), eventually covering each centre listed in tiers 2 to 4 in the City’s shopping hierarchy (see Part 2, policy SC1: The City’s heirarchy of Centres, schedule SC(i)). Action to improve the quality and range of facilities in the City Centre (tier 1 of the hierarchy) is discussed in Part 1, Chapter 8. By indicating the scope for change, renewal and diversification, these CAPs will aim to equip traditional centres to respond to competition and deal with the environmental consequences of changing retail patterns.
6.47 The CAPs will be prepared on a priority basis, with highest priority accorded to centres within, or serving, the major regeneration areas and those that show signs of stress, for example, as a result of new retail development in the vicinity. Although the CAPs will initially be non-statutory, any matters arising from them which require amendment to any of the provisions or policies of this Plan will be incorporated through the review process.
The City Council will bring forward Centre Action Plans for tiers 2 to 4 in the City’s hierarchy of centres. The under-noted centres will have priority for the production of such plans:
Parkhead (tier 2)
Possilpark (tier 3)
Partick/Byres Road (tier 2)
Shettleston (tier 3)
Shawlands (tier 2)
Springburn (tier 3)
Drumchapel (tier 3)
Victoria Road (tier 3)
Duke Street (tier 3)
Bridgeton (tier 4)
Govan (tier 3)
The Centre Action Plans will be based on an audit of the vitality and viability of each centre, and will include:
proposals and policies for new development;
control of the uses of existing development;
improvements to the physical environment and streetscape;
programmes of health checks; and
measures for town centre management and promotion.
