AMT benchmarking & SSBA Business Confidence survey: Presentation 22 July 2013 Prepared for: Stony Stratford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Agenda AMT benchmarking: headlines Business Confidence survey: planning-related results Q&A

What is AMT?Action for Market Towns. A membership organisation offering help and advice, best practice, and national representation. SSBA has been a member for some years and has run workshops with them in Stony.

What is AMT’s Market Town Benchmarking? The system gathers and analyses the economic performance of town centres based on a set of Key Performance Indicators. Designed by research professionals and town centre managers, and refined based on real-world use in towns since 2004, Town Benchmarking now has users in England, Wales and Scotland. SSBA commissioned AMT to carry out benchmarking in Stony this spring.

KPIs measured in Stony: Headlines KPI #DescriptionResult (Stony v benchmarks) 1Total number of commercial units% of shops average, fewer financial and professional units, more drinking establishments 2Retail by comparison/convenienceMore ‘comparison goods’ shops 3Key attractors/multiple trader representation More independent shops (therefore fewer key attractors) 4Number of vacant unitsFewer vacant units 6 and 7Zone A retail rents and prime retail property yields Within £3.00/square foot of benchmarks 8Footfall countsHigher footfall 9Car parking availability and usageLower vacancy rates

SSBA Business Confidence survey Objectives: To establish… Opinions about the economic health of Stony Attitudes to doing business here…including role of SSBA Input to the business element of Stony’s neighbourhood plan (advised TC of survey)

The technical bit  Sample size of 135  Online survey, combination of membership database (with some telephone interviews), Shortbursts, AboutMyArea  Typical respondent = SSBA member, commercial/professional, one to two FTE, single- outlet independent, 10+ years old  38% were not SSBA members

Perceptions are that Stony has been doing well, or at the very least ‘neither well nor badly’, over the last 12 months N = 133 (skipped question: 2) CONTEXT 71% 72%

The general surroundings in Stony are the major positive aspects of doing business in the town, with the available services coming a close second N = 114 (skipped question: 21) Note: This chart only includes Positive ratings, but Negative ratings were also given. CONTEXT Surroundings Most scores, where AMT comparisons are available, are higher for Stony

Overwhelmingly, the general rate of economic recovery is seen as the biggest threat to business N = 110 (skipped question: 25) CONTEXT

But this presentation concentrates on the planning related questions asked…  Cofferidge Close  Other re-development in Stony  How to entice people onto the High Street  TC requested questions on:  Relaxation of planning laws  Sunday opening

Half of the sample had not supported the most recent Cofferidge Close planning application N = 104 (skipped question: 31)

The majority of respondents think that Stony needs a supermarket a bit larger than the present Budgens store N = 106 (skipped question: 29 )

…and that Cofferidge Close needs to change fundamentally in the medium to long-term future N = 101 (skipped question: 34)

A large minority would like to see re-development in Stony apart from Cofferidge Close N = 109 (skipped question: 26)

Of those who would like to see other re-development, opinion is fairly evenly split between ‘Takeaway Corner’ and the old gas storage site at the north end of the High Street N = 42 (skipped question: 93)

Other re-development  Other sites suggested for re-development included the car park behind the Cock Hotel/’sheds’ off Ostler’s Lane, and St Mary’s Avenue industrial estate.  We asked an open question “One of the challenges many towns face is how to encourage people who might come in just to shop at a supermarket to venture further into the town and spend money with other shops and businesses. Regardless of what happens with Cofferidge Close, how do you think people who don't know Stony, and come in just to go to the supermarket (either now or in the future), might be helped to find and use the High Street?”  The 35 responses (all of which are available for review) mainly came in the categories of additional signage, more marketing & advertising, better parking (ie easier to find), and a better mix of interesting/destination shops and services.

A majority think that the revised planning rules will increase rates of business expansion and/or creation xxx N = 93 (skipped question: 42) Twenty ‘other’ comments were also made at this question, and are available for review.

…and would like to see more shops and cafes open in Stony on a Sunday N = 95 (skipped question: 40) Fifteen ‘other’ comments were also made at this question, and are available for review.

QUESTIONS?