Town Centre Health Check October 2024

Contents

INTRODUCTION

ILKESTON TOWN CENTRE

LONG EATON TOWN CENTRE

BORROWASH LOCAL CENTRE

SANDIACRE LOCAL CENTRE

BREASTON VILLAGE CENTRE

DRAYCOTT VILLAGE CENTRE

LITTLE EATON VILLAGE CENTRE

WEST HALLAM VILLAGE CENTRE

APPENDICIES

 

Introduction

Since 2018, Erewash Borough Council has produced an annual health check document regarding its two town centres; Long Eaton and Ilkeston, and its two local centres; Borrowash and Sandiacre. Since January 2023 four village centres have been included, in keeping with the draft Local Plan produced by Erewash Borough Council in 2022. These centres are: Breaston, Draycott, Little Eaton, and West Hallam.

These reports help provide the Council with information on planning use class, business category, business type, first/second floor use, and vacancy rates. Regular, 6 monthly, updates help to ensure effective monitoring of the Borough’s centres and reveal any patterns of change. The information in this document is based on the latest monitoring conducted during October/November 2024.

The Council is now able to compare this report’s data with Oct 2018 – April 2024’s data for vacancy rates. Since April 2024 vacancy rates have declined or remained constant in the majority of centres with the largest improvements in Long Eaton Primary Shopping Area (PSA) and the wider Long Eaton Town Centre. Vacancy has also declined in Borrowash, West Hallam, and in Ilkeston’s PSA. Sandiacre and Breaston’s vacancy rates have not changed. Both Draycott and Ilkeston’s wider Town Centre have seen a small increase in vacancy.

The reports for both Town Centres show their PSA and whole area vacancy rates between January 2018 and October 2024. An additional comparison with the 2006 WYG Retail Needs Study Goad Centre Report can be found in the appendix. This is followed by data on the primary use category of ground, first, and second floor units. A 2018-2024 historical data comparison is also provided for ground floor units. Again the 2006 WYG Study can provide further comparison. Finally, there is a detailed breakdown of the business types within six Use Categories (Comparison Retail, Leisure Service, Other Commercial, Retail Service, Financial and Business Services, Convenience Retail. Other non-commercial is not included as the category is small and rarely contains more than one of each business type while residential and vacant are not included as they do not contain any business types).

The reports for the Local and Village Centres show vacancy rates with Jan 2018-Oct 2024 data for the Local Centres and Jan 2023-Oct 2024 data for the village centres. This is followed by the ground and first floor use category data. Historical use category data is not available for comparison, second floor usage has been excluded as it is rare, and most use categories are not large enough to justify business type breakdowns.

The 2006 WYG Retail Needs Study Goad Centre Report and annotated boundary maps for the Town and Local Centres showing the use category of each unit can be found in the appendix.

Previous versions of the Town Centre Health Check from April 2024, October 2023, and January 2023 are avalible on request by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., please ask that the request be passed on to the Economic Development team.

 

Ilkeston Town Centre Three pictures of Ilkeston are shown left to right, they show: St Mary’s Church in April 2024, the Market Place in October 2023 as viewed from outside the King's Head pub looking on the right past the Town Hall, the old Co-op, and South Street with the library on the left, and Upper Bath Street in October 2023 viewed from the elevated graveyard of St. Mary's Church. Below are 2 graphs, the first shows the primary shopping area ground floor vacancy rate which has been trending upward since 2019 but has recently fallen to 14.1%. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: 2018 10.7%, 2019 5.2%, 2020 7.7%, 2021 9.1%, 2022 15.2%, Jan 2023 15.2%, Oct 2023 19.2%, Apr 2024 15.4%, Oct 2024 14.1%. The second shows the whole Town Centre ground floor vacancy rate which dipped in 2021 but has been trending upwards and remained volatile, it is currently at 13.9%. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: 2018 13.5%, 2019 12.2%, 2020 10.6%, 2021 9.7%, 2022 12.3%, Jan 2023 12.8%, Oct 2023 16.0%, Apr 2024 12.5%, Oct 2024 13.9%.Three pie charts are shown. The first shows the use category of town centre ground floor units, the largest categories are comparison retail, retail services, and leisure services all at roughly 20%. The second shows the use category of town centre first floor units, the largest category by far is Residential at 42.19%. The third shows the use category of town centre second floor units again the largest category by far is Residential at 56.83%.A stacked bar graph shows the use category of town centre ground floor units between Jan 2018-Oct 2024. The largest changes are Retail services that have grown from 39 units in 2018 to 63 units in 2024 and residential which has shrunk from 26 units in 2018 to 13 units in 2024.Four pie charts are shows. This first shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the convenience retail use category that occupy ground floor units, discount general retailers and supermarkets are the largest business type occupying 4 units each followed by Bakeries with 3 units. The second shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the leisure service use category that occupy ground floor units, drinking establishments are the largest business type occupying 19 units followed closely by takeaways with 18 units then Cafes with 10 units. The Third shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the Financial & Business Services use category that occupy ground floor units, Estate agents are the most numerous categories occupying 9 units. The fourth shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the other commercial use category that occupy ground floor units. while there are only 8 units in this category medical services are the largest type occupying 2 units.Two bar graphs are shown. The first shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the comparison retail use category that occupy ground floor units, furniture and charity shops are the most numerous types with 8 and 7 units respectively. The second shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the retail service use category that occupy ground floor units, hairdressers are the most numerous type with 22 units followed by general beauty with 10 units then trade shops with 7 units.

 

Long Eaton Town Centre Two pictures of Long Eaton are shown, they show: The High Street on a market day in October 2023 as viewed from outside Savers looking towards the Market Place with a flower stand on the left and the Marketplace in October 2023 viewed from between the pedestrian crossing and the taxi rank, looking down towards the war memorial. Below are 2 line graphs, the first shows the primary shopping area ground floor vacancy rate which had been trending slightly down since 2023 and is currently at 8.8%. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: 2018 7.0%, 2019 8.7%, 2020 14.5%, 2021 13.0%, 2022 13.3%, Jan 2023 12.5%, Oct 2023 11.8%, Apr 2024 13.0%, Oct 2024 8.8%. The second shows the whole Town Centre ground floor vacancy rate which has plateaued since 2021 before falling to 8.1% this year. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: 2018 6.7%, 2019 9.9%, 2020 14.3%, 2021 11.2%, 2022 10.5%, Jan 2023 10.4%, Oct 2023 12.1%, Apr 2024 11.3%, Oct 2024 8.1%.Three pie charts are shown. The first shows the use category of town centre ground floor units, the largest categories are comparison retail and leisure services at roughly 20% each. The second shows the use category of town centre first floor units, the largest category by far is Residential at 36.92%. The third shows the use category of town centre second floor units again the largest category by far is Residential at 62.5%.A stacked bar graph shows the use category of town centre ground floor units between Jan 2018-Oct 2024. While there is some fluctuations there were no significant changes in use class distribution over the years.Four pie charts are shows. This first shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the convenience retail use category that occupy ground floor units, discount general retailers are the largest business type occupying 7 units followed by small shops with 4 units. The second shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the leisure service use category that occupy ground floor units, takeaways are the largest business type occupying 16 units followed by Cafes with 12 units. The Third shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the Financial & Business Services use category that occupy ground floor units, Estate agents are the most numerous categories occupying 12 units. The fourth shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the other commercial use category, medical services are the largest category occupying 4 units.Two bar graphs are shown. The first shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the comparison retail use category that occupy ground floor units, charity shops are the most numerous types with 10 units followed by apparel with 6 units and then furniture with 5 units. The second shows a breakdown of the types of businesses within the retail service use category that occupy ground floor units, general beauty occupies the most units at 12 followed by hair dressers with 11 units.

 

Borrowash Local Centre An image shows the view along Nottingham Road towards its intersection with Station Road in January 2023. To the left is a line graph that shows the whole Local Centre ground floor vacancy rate which increased since 2020 before decreasing this year to 7.9%. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: 2018 2.5%, 2019 0.0%, 2020 0.0%, 2022 4.5%, Jan 2023 11.4%, Oct 2023 13.5%, Apr 2024 10.8%, Oct 2024 7.9%. Below are two pie charts. The first shows the use category of local centre ground floor units, the largest category is retail services at 28.95% followed by leisure services at 21.05%. The second shows the use category of local centre first floor units, the largest category by far is residential at 64.52%.

 

Sandiacre Local Centre An image shows the view from Grasmere Street over the canal in October 2023. The Red Lion Pub is to the right. To the left is a line graph that shows the whole Local Centre ground floor vacancy rate which has rose sharply from a previous plateau in 2023 before declining slightly to now be 14.3%. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: 2018 10.0%, 2019 7.7%, 2020 5.6%, 2022 5.6%, Jan 2023 5.6%, Oct 2023 16.7%, Apr 2024 14.3%, Oct 2024 14.3%. Below are two pie charts. The first shows the use category of local centre ground floor units. Residential, retail services, and leisure services all occupy roughly 20% of units each. The second shows the use category of local centre first floor units, the largest category by far is residential at 63.77%.

 

Breaston Village Centre An image shows the view down main street from outside the pre-school down towards the Green in January 2023. To the right is a graph that shows the village Centre ground floor vacancy rate which is currently 6.7% after increasing slightly from the previous year. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: Jan 2023 3.3%, Oct 2023 2.2%, Apr 2024 6.5%, Oct 2024 6.7%. Below are two pie charts. The first shows the use category of village centre ground floor units, the largest category is residential which occupies 31.11% of units, followed by retail services with 17.78% and then leisure services with 15.56%. The second shows the use category of village centre first floor units, the largest category by far is residential at 76.32%.

 

Draycott Village Centre An image shows the from Station Road looking down towards Victoria Mill in January 2023. To the right is a graph that shows the village Centre ground floor vacancy rate which is currently 5.6%, up slightly from the previous year. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: Jan 2023 3.3%, Oct 2023 4.6%, Apr 2024 4.6%, Oct 2024 5.6%. Below are two pie charts. The first shows the use category of village centre ground floor units, the largest category by far is residential occupying 53.93% of units. The second shows the use category of village centre first floor units, again the largest category by far is residential at 80.77%.

 

Little Eaton Village Centre An image shows the Alfreton Road running North as viewed from the crossing outside the Coop in April 2024. To the right is a table that shows the village Centre ground floor vacancy rate which is currently 0%, asit has been since Jan 2023. Below are two pie charts. The first shows the use category of village centre ground floor units, the largest category is other commercial at 37.50% followed by retail services at 25%. The second shows the use category of village centre first floor units, the largest category is residential at 50%.

 

West Hallam Village Centre An image shows the units of the Dales Shopping Centre that overlook the Village in January 2023. To the right is a graph that shows the village Centre ground floor vacancy rate which is currently 6.25%, down from the previous year. The following list is the vacancy rate in each year: Jan 2023 18.8%, Oct 2023 12.5%, Apr 2024 12.5%, Oct 2024 6.25%. Below are two pie charts. The first shows the use category of village centre ground floor units, the largest category is retail services at 25% followed by leisure services at 18.75%. The second shows the use category of village centre first floor units, the largest category by far is residential at 75%.

 

Appendices

 

Appendix 1: Comparison with 2006 business categories data

A Town Centre study was carried out in 2006, it is included here as a baseline to highlight changes.

Ilkeston

2006

Apr-24

Change

Convenience Retail

25

9%

19

6.6%

-6

-2.4%

Comparison Retail

86

29%

57

19.9%

-29

-9.1%

Retail Services

38

13%

63

22.0%

+25

+9.0%

Leisure Services

45

15%

56

19.5%

+11

+4.5%

Financial & Business

32

11%

26

9.1%

-6

-1.9%

Unknown/Vacant

32

11%

40

14.0%

+8

+3.0%

Residential

21

7%

13

4.5%

-8

-2.5%

Other Commercial

4

1%

7

2.4%

+3

+1.4%

Other Non-commercial

10

3%

6

2.1%

-4

-0.9%

Long Eaton

2006

Apr-24

Change

Convenience Retail

21

8%

19

7.7%

-2

-0.3%

Comparison Retail

92

36%

51

20.6%

-41

-15.4%

Retail Services

31

12%

42

16.9%

+11

+4.9%

Leisure Services

45

18%

47

19.0%

+2

+1.0%

Financial & Business

38

15%

32

12.9%

-6

-2.1%

Unknown/Vacant

15

6%

22

8.9%

+7

+2.9%

Residential

7

3%

19

7.7%

+12

+4.7%

Other Commercial

3

1%

12

4.5%

+9

+3.5%

Other Non-commercial

4

2%

4

1.6%

0

-0.4%

The highlighted categories show where there has been a >4% change over the 17 years.

 

Appendix 2:  Annotated Boundary Maps

Ilkeston Town Centre

A map showing the boundary of Ilkeston Town Centre with dots showing the use category of each unit.

Long Eaton Town Centre

 A map showing the boundary of Long Eaton Town Centre with dots showing the use category of each unit.

Borrowash Local Centre

A map showing the boundary of Borrowash Local Centre with dots showing the use category of each unit.

Sandiacre Local Centre

 A map showing the boundary of Sandiacre Local Centre with dots showing the use category of each unit.

Unannotated boundary maps can be found on the map portal by select the Planning (Policy Data) category then tick the box next to Town and Local Centres.