John O’Shaughnessy reports on plans that will favour more home-based retailers
Designed to prevent large out of town superstores
FUTURE retail developments in Limerick are likely to be influenced by the Department of the Environment’s Planning Guidelines, for which a public consultation paper is shortly to be published.
City centre traders have regularly complained that business has been decimated because of large out of town developments, which have mushroomed over the last two decades.
However, as revealed in the Limerick Post last week, the city is beginning to fight back, with upwards of 22 units, many of which had been vacant, having reopened under new ownership.
“With shopping centre rents having escalated, many not so high-profile shop owners are turning towards the city centre”, said Pat Kearney of Rooney Auctioneers.
Some weeks ago, The Limerick Post highlighted closures at the Parkway, Crescent and Castletroy Shopping Centres.
A recent Experian report showed that 16.5% of retail outlets in Limerick were vacant. This compares with a national average of almost 15%.
Limerick City Council planners are reluctant to grant permissions for developments in the suburbs, and twice turned down applications for cinemas on the Ennis Road.
The Retail Planning Guidelines were introduced to prioritise developments in cities, towns and villages to prevent the developments of large out of town superstores.
Evidence shows these development have had a devastating impact on a vast number of communities across Northern Ireland and Great Britain resulting in significant job losses, the breakdown of community and the creation of near ‘Ghost Towns’ across these jurisdictions.
SuperValu and Centra retailers in Limerick, who own and operate their own stores, and together employ in the region of 1,300 people, welcome the guidelines.
Commenting on the outlook for the grocery retail market in Ireland, should the government not maintain its current approach to retail planning, Donal Horgan, managing director, told the Limerick Post: “The retail planning guidelines have enabled the creation of a vibrant and competitive retail landscape in town centres, preserving communities and offering choice and competition to the consumer.
“The guidelines don’t just make sense from a community perspective; they also make strong economic sense and are a great example of sustainable planning policy”.
Local shops, he continued, were driven by a commitment to local sourcing, not only provide substantial direct employment, but also support a network of local service providers such as insurance brokers, solicitors, accountants, painters and builders.
“Local food retailers happily co-exist with local drapers, hardware shops, book and record shops, pharmacies, hardware and garden centres, all benefiting from the same consumer base”.
He argues that super stores (over 3,000sq meters) kill off competition.
“They do not provide greater shelf space for food items; they result in more space for non-food items. Research on international grocery and retail trends demonstrates that larger format stores dedicate up to 30% of their square footage to non-food items such as books, DVDs, electrical products, toys and household items.
“This does not lead to better food choice or lower prices, but in fact leads to the closure of smaller food and non-food stores thus reducing competition and choice”.
Maybe, we will soon see a return of the much loved, but long lost, corner shop.
