As the government lines up plans to overhaul the UK planning system, could we see less shops and more homes and offices in Harrogate town centre as a result of the changes?
The town centre already has around 10% of its retail units sitting empty and an impending economic downturn could see that number increase.
But proposals lined up by the government could change how developers react to the loss of shops and what to do with them.
Ministers are to press ahead with measures which would see permitted development rights extended to empty outlets. It means that developers could demolish empty stores and replace them with housing without the need for a planning application.
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Further measures would see change of use rules relaxed, meaning unused shops could be turned into offices or homes.
James Tyreman, of Nicholls Tyerman estate agents, said the move would fit with an already popular town centre area to live in and converting a building would depend on its location.
He said: “It would depend on the right building and the right address.
“The town centre area is popular to live in and Harrogate has a lot of very attractive buildings. But it is very much a case of the right address and right location.”
Meanwhile, James Hobson, managing director at JEH Planning, said the reuse of vacant units will be crucial in helping the local economy after the pandemic.
He said: “Serious consideration will need to be given to the potential re-use of vacant retail premises and other commercial space for other uses, something that can be a controversial topic in Harrogate.
“However, if planners do not grasp and act on this issue, we could be preventing economic stimulus at a time that we have never needed it more.
“As part of this, we need to be completely realistic as to how much business and commercial space can be viably re-provided on site, and indeed how much affordable housing can be funded as part of mix use redevelopment proposals.”
He added that greater flexibility in the planning system would be key for those changes and to help high streets flourish.
The town centre has a Masterplan drawn up by the borough council, that was published four years ago. Critics argue that times have changed with increased online shopping and now the impact of coronavirus lockdown on the town centre.
The masterplan suggests the pedestrianisation of James Street which is the source of real concern to some traders
The Stray Ferret contacted Harrogate Borough Council leader, Richard Cooper, in advance of this article to request an interview on the vision for the town and traders concerns, but received no response.
Independent Harrogate have already made their voices heard and called for a rethink of the plan.
In its manifesto, the trade association said the town centre faces a crisis amid the pandemic and described the plan as “outdated”.
The publication of the manifesto was another example of the growing frustration among traders who feel the town’s future and its high-end shopping, which it is famous for, is at stake.
A spokesperson for the group said:
“We are terribly worried, there are various businesses that have already closed.
“The government have been supportive, but the local authority have got to be supportive too.”
At this critical juncture, there is a responsibility on policymakers to shape plans for the future. But there is also a responsibility on us to shop local if we want the stores we like to survive.