Draft Policy DM31 - Town Centre Shopping Frontages
Support
Development Management DPD Preferred Policy Options Document
Representation ID: 28282
Received: 19/01/2012
Respondent: Ms Jean Townsend
Quality is more important than usage.
There is currently an oversupply of retail units in the centre of Hockley so it might be good to close Eldon Way and open a new, high-quality leisure centre on the site of the Co-op funeral parlour, which should be located more discretely.
"Frontage" sounds superficial; the entire freehold area is the real issue. Whatever the usage of the units, the centre of Hockley needs to be replaced by buildings of the most generous proportions and the highest quality materials. Please consider the retail property in Rayleigh High Street which contains the Santander Bank and the New Look clothes shop. This is a good model for retail units in Hockley's Spa Road.
Support
Development Management DPD Preferred Policy Options Document
Representation ID: 28283
Received: 25/01/2012
Respondent: Ms Jean Townsend
Usage like undertakers and takeaways must be marginal and unobtrusive and must keep their surroundings clean. Local government should have the power to control this.
If no-one wants to occupy for A1 usage a stringently controlled alternative may better than permanently empty property.
BUT "The Fryery" fish and chip shop in Hockley town centre is an example of bad siting and I do not know whether this is A1 or A3 usage. It is a popular but ugly and dirty unit which causes dangerous fouling of the pavement, particularly around weekends. During redevelopment this takeaway should be redirected further to the edge of the shops. The same applies to the Co-op funeral parlour which should be redirected to far more sensitive location, like Hockley's other undertakers.