Block 3 - New Road/Market Street/Ryemarket

This is the third and weakest block of the main retail core area. There are strong frontages to the Ryemarket, High Street and Market Street but the frontage to New Road has been weakened by the B & Q development. The Ryemarket development itself has disrupted the natural patterns of the block, with the north/south access of Victoria Street having been truncated.

New Road offers the potential to reinstate a strong street frontage in the B & Q gap, should redevelopment take place. Opportunities should also be explored in reinstating the historic north/south link to the Ryemarket and Talbot Street area.

The Ryemarket and High Street frontages are protected and form part of the retail core. However, New Road and Market Street including the B & Q site, provide opportunities for mixed uses. Preferred retail uses should be limited to shops of a scale and nature that reflect the distinctive character of the block. Large scale units of floorspace over 2500 m2 are considered inappropriate, especially those devoted to bulky goods and/or DIY. Within the block, the use of upper floors for residential or office uses is desirable. Office uses are considered appropriate within the Town Centre, but outside the retail core. However, the light industry element of B1 is not considered suitable for a town centre location.

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