Press Notices
19 July 2006
High street must come first, says Government's transport advisor
The UK Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) today released a new report looking at how different modes of transport impact on the retail environment and, in particular, looking at the shopping habits of car drivers.
CfIT was asked by Government to examine the impact of shopping behaviour on congestion and accessibility at retail and leisure sites. Its study shows that despite some retailers' current perceptions, it is bus users, cyclists and walkers who support their town centres the most. These transport users visit town centres more frequently than car users, who instead tend to drive to out-of-town shopping centres and supermarkets.
The study also shows that the ways shoppers get to their shopping destinations have very little effect on how much they spend, with income level being a more significant factor. This suggests that better public transport and facilities for walkers and cyclists can help attract more shoppers back to local high streets and that more needs to be done to manage transport demand at the big out of town shopping centres.
CfIT's aim is to encourage sustainable, successful and socially vibrant retail centres that can be readily accessed by all and today's study was endorsed by Commission Member Helen Holland.
"When people go shopping they want the whole experience to be as positive and pleasant as possible, not just when they set foot in the store. This means ensuring that getting to and from shops is as easy, hassle-free and cost-effective as possible and that shoppers are not overwhelmed by cars either when shopping, or on the way there."
The report, 'Sustainable transport choices and the retail sector', looked at six cities and analysed quantitative results from a week-long household diary of shopping behaviour in more than 1600 households in Bath, Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Leeds and Nottingham. The study also involved interviews with retailers and focus groups with shoppers.
CfIT's recommendations based on the study include the following:
- Planning decisions should give precedence to existing town / city centres, in line with current planning guidance on transport and retail development, to encourage shopping around public transport hubs and population centres;
- Local authorities should carefully consider planning requirements for existing out-of-town retailers and supermarkets such as stipulating public transport provisions and / or affordable home delivery services to reduce the need to travel by car;
- Wherever possible, high quality public transport should be provided - particularly Park & Ride, bus stops placed as close to shops as car parks, and attractive and safe pedestrian-friendly environments, all of which are popular with shoppers;
- Congestion-busting measures - including bus priority and congestion charging - should be introduced and, where possible, congestion charging should be introduced at sub-regional level to prevent trade-drain to neighbouring retail centres;
- There should be a "levelling of the playing field" for parking charges between town centre and out-of-town shopping areas, with some out of town centres introducing charges and regional agreements where necessary to prevent undercutting and consequent "trade drain" out of the area.
Helen Holland added: "Our study shows 85% of shoppers going to out-of-town retail parks arrive in their cars. The Commission recognises that for some shopping trips such as the weekly grocery shop, the car is currently the most convenient option, but this level of car use is simply not sustainable in the long term. We want to see local authorities, retailers and transport operators taking the right decisions to support the High Street. Out-of-town shopping centres surrounded by gridlock and irate shoppers will not help anyone - least of all the retailers."
Notes to editors:
- Helen Holland is available for interviews. Please contact Luke Blair on 020 7479 2830 or at lb@londoncommunications.co.uk.
- Please note that there are two relevant papers on 'Sustainable transport choices and the retail sector':
i: The full report from consultants Mott MacDonald, including detailed analysis, is available at: www.independent.gov.uk/cfit/pubs/2006/stc/index.htm. Requests for access to the datasets should be made via email to cfit@dft.gsi.gov.uk.
ii: CfIT's own analysis and recommendations based on the Mott MacDonald report are available at: www.independent.gov.uk/cfit/pubs/2006/stc/index.htm. - The Commission for Integrated Transport was set up by Government to provide it with independent advice on strategic policy issues.
- CfIT is chaired by Peter Hendy and has 16 other Commission Members drawn from a broad spectrum of transport expertise. See: www.independent.gov.uk/cfit/about/index.htm.
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