DISTRICT CENTRES
EMSWORTH
338. Emsworth provides a district shopping and service centre
function. It retains a high residential component and is a location
for employment uses associated with leisure and tourism, all set
within an intimate and attractive historic environment. This has
helped Emsworth maintain its role as a small shopping centre with a
pleasant village atmosphere.
339. The centre has benefited from public sector investment
and the most recent scheme has been carried out in North Street.
Further projects will include upgrading the existing subway under
the A259 which will help to encourage pedestrian movement between
the two parts of the shopping centre. The designation of much of
the centre as a Conservation Area limits opportunities for
expansion or redevelopment and this Plan contains no major site
specific proposals for retail development in this centre. The main
issue for the future of the centre is to support the core retail
and service sector function and to enhance vitality and viability
by accommodating other appropriate uses particularly where this
will help protect the historic character and urban fabric of the
centre.
LEIGH PARK DISTRICT CENTRE
340. The Leigh Park District Centre provides facilities for
the extensive residential area to the north and west of Havant. It
is a fully pedestrianised, purpose built centre with extensive
adjacent public car parking. Its retail provision is orientated
towards meeting the convenience and smaller comparison shopping
needs of the local catchment. The shopping role of the centre is
complemented by the community and leisure facilities located on the
periphery of the centre.
341. The main issue for the future of this centre is the need
to increase the attraction of the centre to its surrounding
catchment area. In this connection the owners of Greywell are
seeking to amalgamate small units which will be of more interest to
local and national comparison retailers. Not only will the
provision of larger units improve the retail offer, it will also
help to reduce the high number of vacant units. There is room for
the introduction of diversified uses because of the high vacancy
levels, particularly in secondary locations. Other proposals aimed
at improving the vitality and viability of the centre are being
investigated as part of the Leigh Park Creating Quality Places
project.
COWPLAIN DISTRICT CENTRE
342. Cowplain is a linear district centre serving the
surrounding predominantly residential areas in the north west part
of the Borough. It is situated on the west side of the A3 London
Road, a little over one kilometre north of Waterlooville Town
Centre. The main issue for the future of Cowplain is the need for
the existing shops to retain their share of local spending for both
convenience and non-food shopping in the face of increased
competition from other nearby centres, particularly Waterlooville
Town Centre and the out-of-town superstore situated nearby at
Horndean. To help Cowplain maintain its market share it will be
necessary to carry out improvements to assist with pedestrian
movement, car parking and to carry out associated environmental
improvements. A scheme is proposed for an enhancement scheme which
will give greater priority to pedestrians and reduce the present
dominant influence of London Road. The scheme will be designed in
such a way to create a sense of separation between the shopping
frontages and the main road. This will also involve rationalising
signs, updating street furniture and incorporating hard and soft
landscape improvements.
MENGHAM/GABLE HEAD DISTRICT CENTRE
343. Mengham and Gable Head are two separate shopping centres
which provide a complementary shopping offer and are treated as one
centre within Policy TC1 Hierarchy of Centres. Mengham is the
largest centre and possesses a friendly village atmosphere. Both
centres are anchored by small supermarkets. The small size of both
these supermarkets limits their appeal to local residents and this
is the basic reason why the majority of Hayling's residents shop
off the Island.
344. Due to the constraints imposed by the proximity of
residential property both at Mengham and Gable Head it has not been
possible to define a site of sufficient size for a new foodstore
close enough to either centre which would contribute to their
vitality and viability. The main issue for the future is the
promotion of environmental improvements directed at enhancing the
shopping experience. A successful scheme was completed in 1998
along Mengham Road. The shopping frontages along Elm Grove both at
Mengham and Gable Head could also benefit from similar treatment
which would help calm traffic movements to the benefit of shoppers
and provide more space for tree planting and street
furniture.