Retail centres

Retail Centres are an important part of any city. They provide access to a range of services as well as shops and are vital to all communities.

Bristol has 54 clearly identifiable retail centres, from the city centre, featuring Cabot Circus, which opened in 2008, as well as Broadmead, to town, district and local centres - see Visit Bristol (external link). 

The centres include:

• convenience stores
• supermarkets
• comparison goods retailers
• specialist independent shops
• bars
• cafes
• post offices
• banks
• leisure
• pharmacies
• healthcare
• libraries and
• transport facilities.

Bristol - key facts

• 70% of retail businesses are independent (Bristol Citywide Retail Study 2007).
• There are 11 town, 9 district and 27 local defined retail centres (Bristol Core Strategy 2011).
• There are around 5,400 retail properties, the vacancy rate is 8.9% (Business Rates October 2011).

Business support and initiatives

To keep up-to-date with new business support and initiatives in support of retail centres and independent traders follow us on Twitter.  Information on some support and initiatives can be found below:

Bristol Independents

The Bristol Food Network, in partnership with the Bristol Food Policy Council, the Bristol Green Capital, Bristol City Council and Destination Bristol has launched an independents campaign to highlight the city’s diverse independent sector and vibrant high streets.  

The campaign was launched on September 16, 2011, when an Bristol Independents flag was raised at St Nicholas Market by Councillor Barbara Janke, leader of the council with traders and members of the Bristol Food Network. A series of events to celebrate Bristol Independents Day took place on September 17 2011.

See www.bristolindependents.co.uk for more information on the Independents campaign.

Small business rate relief

There is Rate Relief potentially available for businesses that occupy a property with a rateable of less than £18,000. There is potentially 100% Rate Relief available for properties with a rateable value of £6,000 or under. See Business rates for more information, criteria and an application form.

Here are some examples on the value of small business rate relief for the current financial year, 2011 to 12:

• A business occupying a property with a rateable value of £6,000
• 2011 Liability before reduction £2,598
• 2011 with small business rate relief £ zero
• Saving of £2,598

• A business occupying a property with a rateable value of £9,000
• 2011 liability before reduction £3897.00
• 2011 with small business rate relief £1917.00
• Saving of £1,980.00

• A business occupying a property with a rateable value of £17,750
• 2011 liability before reduction £7,685.75
• 2011 with small business rate relief £7,561.50
• Saving of £124.25

These figures are calculated using the rateable values shown and the temporary increase in the level of Small Business Rate Relief which ends on 31 March 2013. In addition, a number of assumptions were made including:

1. The property is not subject to transition. Transition is the upward or downward phasing of large increases or reductions in business rate bills following a revaluation. The latest revaluation was in April 2010 and transition will continue for five years, allowing customers to receive gradual increases or decreases to their bills over this period.
2. There has been no exemption or relief awarded during the current financial year.

If you want to find out the rateable value of a business property, visit www.2010.voa.gov.uk/rli/en/basic/find.

Vacant retail properties

Vacant retail premises can be seen as a threat, but also offer new business and investment opportunities.  See Commercial property for information on vacant council owned property.  See ShopProperty (external link), a national database of vacant shops.

Research

As with any business, it's important before starting-up or expanding to know your market or potential customers.
Bristol City Council publishes a range of research information that may be of use, this includes a residents' Quality of Life Survey, Neighbourhood and MOSAIC profiles.
In addition, if you are food based you may be interested in Who Feeds Bristol?

Connecting Bristol

Current and emerging technology is seen as both a threat and opportunity to independent retailers.  Initial consultation with traders’ groups suggests that Bristol City Council could help retailers take advantage of opportunities by improving access to infrastructure, connectivity and providing promotion/networking opportunities.

Around 55 Wi-Fi hotspots have been rolled out over the last year, including in libraries, many of which are in or near retail centres and at St Nicholas Market.  See Connecting Bristol website for more on Bristol's digital projects.

Traders' associations

Bristol City Council seeks to liaise with and support traders' or business associations across the city.  There are associations in:

• Clifton
• Gloucester Road
• Stapleton Road
• North Street
• East Street
• St Nicholas Market
• Westbury-on-Trym
• Henleaze
• Christmas Steps and
• Old Market.  

The following have management organisations in place:

• Broadmead
• The Galleries
• Cabot Circus
• Clifton Down and
• Broadwalk (Knowle).

Other organisations with an interest in retail include:

• the Federation of Small Businesses
• GWE Business West and
• the Bristol Gay Village Business and Residents' Association.

View Information on various local trader led initiatives (pdf, 31 KB) and the Westbury-on-Trym Discount Card Scheme (pdf, 41 KB).

Markets strategy and action plan

A review of markets was carried out by consultants Roger Tym & Partners and Market Squared in December 2010.

A draft Strategy and Action Plan (pdf, 259 KB) - the council is in the process of finalising a Markets Strategy & Action Plan, more information can be obtained by emailing retail@bristol.gov.uk

View Bristol Markets Policy Review - Final Report (pdf, 2.2 MB).  

See also Markets in Bristol.

Bristol Pound

Plans are underway to develop a local currency for Bristol.  The Bristol Pound aims to include and support independent businesses in Bristol.  See Bristol Pound (external link) for further information.

Area based projects

City Centre Management and Development

Destination Bristol (a joint venture between Bristol City Council and GWE Business West) works with its partners to promote  and manage the prime city centre shopping areas (Cabot Circus, Broadmead and The Galleries).  Destination Bristol's management of Broadmead is supported by a Business Improvement District

Destination Bristol is leading a City Centre Retail Development project working closely with Bristol City Council and GWE Business West.  The priority areas for improvement and support are Stokes Croft and Old Market.  Key aims of the project are to promote the independent offer and attract new independent traders. Christmas Steps/Colston Street, the Old City (Corn Street/St Nicholas St), Park Street and Broadmead are also receiving support.   This project is funded by through the Cabot Circus s106 agreement. 

The areas mentioned above are marketed via Visit Bristol (external link).
Email eva.stuetzenberger@destinationbristol.co.uk

Portas Pilots

Following the Portas Review into the future of our high streets, an invitation to become a Portas Town Team was published back in early February, see http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.communities.gov.uk/regeneration/economicgrowth/townteams/. Those wishing to bid should let Bristol City Council know as soon as possible by emailing retail@bristol.gov.uk.  You should also consider attending the Portas Review High Street Workshop on 9 March (9am to 12pm) in Bristol, organised by the Department of Communities & Local Government and the Association of Town Centre Management, see www.atcm.org/events/info.php?refnum=518

Events

BRAVE Enterprise Agency provides a range of training courses that may be of interest to the retail sector, see www.brave.org.uk/services/training.

The Federation of Small Businesses run a number of events that may be of interest, see www.fsb.org.uk/119

Contact us

For further information please email retail@bristol.gov.uk