Town Centre and Retail Study
In January 2004, the Council appointed Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners (NLP) to carry out a Town Centre and Retail Study of the four main towns in the district: Hitchin; Letchworth Garden City; Baldock and Royston. The aim of the study was to undertake an assessment of the four towns in terms of retail and leisure provision and opportunities using the latest available data.
The outcomes of this study contribute towards:
- the review and monitoring of retail policies for inclusion in the Local Development Framework (LDF);
- the retail section of Town Centre Strategies;
- providing retail guidance in the production of Planning Briefs;
- identifying opportunities for potential retail, leisure or mixed-used development sites within the four towns.
The report was endorsed by Cabinet on 23rd June 2004.
Town Centre and Retail Study Final Report (1,989KB) 
2006 Updates
In July 2006, NLP completed an update of the town centre and retail study. The purpose was to update the assessment of retail capacity based on the latest information on population, expenditure and turnover levels. The update is below, and should be read alongside the 2004 report.
Town Centre Retail Study Update 2006 (140KB)
2009 Town Centre and Retail Study
In 2009 the Council once again commissioned NLP to undertake a new town centre and retail study to take into account recent changes in the retail sector. The final document was published in August 2009.
Town Centre and Retail Study Update 2009 (5,534KB)
Town Centre and Retail Study Update 2009 Executive Summary (46KB)
2011 Update
In light of Localism Act and the impending revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies a further update was undertaken to understand the likely retail implications of different housing scenarios and to review latest expenditure and turnover levels.
