The end of the Broadway as we know It?

February 27, 2017 by Rob Kahl

The end of the Broadway as we know It?

I think that may be a bit dramatic, but the hysteria about national companies moving in to our Broadway shops is reaching fever pitch. It seems that every day a new rumour is heard about another empty commercial property being snapped up by a national company looking to force out the independent traders that have made Leigh Broadway so popular.

The latest one I have heard is that Pizza Express is looking to take over the old Rio bar on the corner of Oakleigh Park Drive that has now stood empty for a couple of months. This could come as a big blow to the local restaurants and bars, especially Irma’s I would imagine? This also comes on the back of Specsavers opening a new store right next to and opposite existing independent opticians; Broadway Opticians and Focus on Broadway.

Quite rightly the independent traders that are affected with direct competition are concerned that they will be priced out of the market by national companies able to undercut their prices. But being involved in Scott and Stapleton, as an independent estate agent, and for years being up against national companies such as Haarts, Abbotts or Bairstow Eves I am confident that these other businesses will thrive on the competition and the general public will see the value in using independent companies with their attention to personal service and flexibility.

I am also concerned that the identity of our Broadway will change and the smaller traders will be forced out. This weekend was particularly mild and saw the first weekend where the cafes and shops were all full, it was great to see. The problem is that it’s impossible to police, surely the town council can’t pick and choose the type of traders they want? Everybody wants the national banks, supermarkets, estate agents, pharmacies and travel agents but they don’t want coffee shops, restaurants, opticians, clothes shops or retailers?

As I write this blog we wait for the next budget and the chancellor is promising to soften the blow of the new business rates. This will mean that all business rates will be re-valued and based on the business properties rental value. This again could put a squeeze on independent traders already struggling with rent, rates, staff, utilities and all the other overheads.

It could (and hopefully not) mean more empty commercial units in Leigh. There are already quite a few empty ones now and they seem to be staying empty for longer. This is not a good sign; either the owners are asking too much money for them or more worryingly the traders are not confident enough to take them on.

The unfortunate alternative to banning national companies in the Broadway is if there isn’t the independent trader willing to take on these units, then they will sit empty and this in itself, will change the feeling of the town.

There is also the prospect of large commercial units becoming available soon. What seems like a crazy plan to shut the post office on Rectory Grove could see that particularly large unit empty for some time.

The Broadway is now such a recognisable feature of our town that it would be a real shame to change it dramatically. I am confident though that a mix of independent and national traders can thrive and offer the shopper, or just the Saturday afternoon moocher, everything they need and more.

Watch this space though, I am just waiting for the planning application to go in to change The Grand in to a Wetherspoons pub! NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!

This article is by Rob at Scott & Stapleton

Tel: 01702 471155

You can read all of Rob's previous articles at https://www.leigh-on-sea.com/blog/tag/property.html