Grafton Area of Major Change SPD 2017

Support

Representation ID: 32171

Received: 06/11/2017

Respondent: Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (USS) Aberdeen Asset Management on behalf of Barclays Nominees (Aberdeen)

Agent: Deloitte LLP

USS have expressed their desire to join the debate on the future of the City and requested to be involved in the
Masterplan discussions regarding the balance between the Grafton Centre in particular and the Historic Core.

The City Centre's retail offer needs to be looked at in whole to understand how it functions and the impact of change.
Furthermore, USS offered to collaborate on a wider Masterplan for the City Centre, albeit no response has
been received from Cambridge City Council to date.
Our Clients re-iterate that they would like to engage further and look forward to future dialogue with Cambridge City Council to help achieve the same goal.

Support

Representation ID: 32172

Received: 06/11/2017

Respondent: Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (USS) Aberdeen Asset Management on behalf of Barclays Nominees (Aberdeen)

Agent: Deloitte LLP

In summary, our Clients support the mixed use approach to the redevelopment of the Grafton Area, particularly the introduction of additional residential and student accommodation.
However, clarification is sought of the retail evidence base and the impact and integration of the Grafton Area with the wider city centre.

Object

Representation ID: 32173

Received: 06/11/2017

Respondent: Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (USS) Aberdeen Asset Management on behalf of Barclays Nominees (Aberdeen)

Agent: Deloitte LLP

We welcome the SPD's recognition of the changing face of retail and the wider major trends, there are further challenges facing retail (The Role of The High Street Deloitte LLP, 2015):
-Oversupply - rapid expansion by retailers has led to the duplication of brands in many town centres;
-Affordability - increase in staff costs, rent costs and business rate changes;
-The configuration of retail space has not always managed to keep pace;
-Changed behaviours - consumers are seeking an integrated shopping experience; and
-Digital Acceleration - growth of omni-channel retailing and the growth of artificial intelligence.

Object

Representation ID: 32174

Received: 06/11/2017

Respondent: Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (USS) Aberdeen Asset Management on behalf of Barclays Nominees (Aberdeen)

Agent: Deloitte LLP

We express our concerns in regard to the retail capacity identified within the SPD on page 17, first raised in 2013 following the publication of the Cambridge Retail and Leisure Study Update (2013). Following this update, the Local Plan adopted the highest growth scenario for retail development in the City Centre. We raised concerns at the time that this was ambitious in light of the changing face of retail which indicated that retailers were reviewing their real estate portfolios.

We recommend that an updated Retail and Leisure Study is commissioned to feed into the SPD to reflect not only the changes to the retail environment but also the wider discussions in Cambridge regarding housing numbers.

The SPD could be bolder in its support for the mix of uses provided helping to futureproof the Grafton Area for further retail changes.

Object

Representation ID: 32175

Received: 06/11/2017

Respondent: Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (USS) Aberdeen Asset Management on behalf of Barclays Nominees (Aberdeen)

Agent: Deloitte LLP

Wider consideration needs to be given as to how the Masterplan will impact the City Centre. For example, increases in retail, leisure and residential floorspace will have an impact on demand for transport. This is not addressed within the Masterplan. Additional benefits can be realised by also looking at the wider context and this should be recognised within the SPD e.g. improving links between Grafton and the Historic Core.
We also remain very concerned that the planned investment in extending the capacity of park and ride and improving its efficiency is brought forward as quickly as possible.
In this regard, we continue to re-iterate that we would like to collaborate with Cambridge City Council on a
spatial / economic / transport Masterplan for the City Centre.