New Plymouth’s CBD proves a success and shows growth
BRITTANY BAKER - Taranaki Daily News
New Plymouth District Council group manager of strategy Liam Hodgetts said fears profits were being steered away from the CBD were unfounded and moves were in place to ensure the inner city remained vibrant.
Venture Taranaki’s most recent statistics from 2015 show New Plymouth had a retail spend $438 million during the six months from July to December – $10 million more than the same period in 2013.
Of these profits, the CBD contributed 47 per cent while urban areas – which includes The Valley Mega Centre – accounted for 48 per cent. The remaining 5 per cent came from other areas in the district.
“We are looking at recent data that shows spending increased in the CBD by 11 per cent while The Valley dropped by 9 per cent,” he said.
An informal survey counting the number of empty stores on Devon St – between the Queen and Gover street intersections – shows 15 buildings are currently uninhabited. In comparison, in July 2011 when the same survey was carried out there were more than 20 empty stores.
Hodgetts said the city centre was in fact growing and The Valley had almost no impact on CBD retail
“The CBD offers specialty shopping and an experience whereas The Valley is more bulk shopping. I think there is quite a nice balance and they coexist nicely.”
Concern also surfaced recently when the public called for Kmart to move into the Ravensdown’s Waiwhakaiho site which is currently up for sale.
However, Hodgetts said it was unlikely a Kmart would open, despite current laws that prevent the council from saying no to a major outlet if they wished to purchase the site.
“We are being told that New Plymouth, and Taranaki as a whole, isn’t quite big enough to have a major outlet open here. We just don’t have enough catchment,” he said.
“That means the CBD has some time to develop and gives the council a better chance at protecting it.”
Protecting the CBD is also the focus of a district blueprint, a 30-year spatial plan that will guide council decisions to deliver more integrated social, economic and environmental outcomes for the community.
The blueprint is still in draft and will not be practised until September 2017.
Part of the blueprint included the Shaping Our Future Together initiative – a collaboration between the council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Business and Retailers Association.
Its focus will be on structural growth for the CBD and allow for more control from council, Mayor Andrew Judd said.
“The CBD is a challenge for all of us. We need more strategy and planning,” he said.
“We want to create the environment to encourage growth. Since the CBD is so stretched, we’re working on getting precincts across Devon St.”
The start of precincts began with the construction of the Len Lye Centre – which has increased the number of outside visitors and spending in the CBD by 40 per cent – chamber chief executive Richard Williams said.
“It’s the way of osmosis. The Centre has attracted art shops and galleries close to it. The West is turning into the artsy side of Devon St,” he said.
– Taranaki Daily News