Stirling’s retail ‘heyday’ is over - never to return - councillors have been told.
But Stirling Council officers say they still feel positive the city centre has a vibrant future, albeit in different ways.
The authority’s senior economic developer manager Stuart Oliver addressed its finance committee on Thursday, outlining a new long-term strategy to help support the growth and development of Stirling city centre.
However, he said: “We are very keen to protect our retailers and retail in the city centre - but we also fully understand that retail has changed and won’t ever change back.
“That’s just a fact - and there is no point in us trying to focus our energy solely on that.
“In our strategic objectives now it’s about focusing on people wanting to come into the city centre, even if they don’t particularly need to, with public realm, new offerings, new attractions, new leisure services and improving connectivity.
“Foremost in our minds is how the city centre remains vibrant and attractive - but understanding that, in terms of the heyday of it being filled with retail only, that’s something that’s gone.
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“The trends are quite clear and as emerging demographics and changed behaviours come into place, we have to be fully cognisant of that, but embrace that as an opportunity.
“I’m very positive and officers across the council are very positive about the things we see in the Action Plan...while being fully aware it’s a challenging time for many businesses in the city centre and doing all we can to support them.”
A Stirling City Centre Working Group was established made up of key council officers and representatives from the local business community including Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District, Stirling Arcade and the Thistles shopping centre as well as Historic Environment Scotland and the University of Stirling.
At the council’s finance committee, members were told that despite Stirling’s many strengths - including location, history, activities, business parks, university and college, safari park and a National Park on the doorstep - it faced the same challenges as all other city and town centres across the UK, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members unanimously approved the Stirling City Centre Strategy, which features actions including re-thinking of spaces, buildings and cultural activity.
Increasing footfall, including overnight stays and international visitors, as well as improving business confidence in the city centre are among key targets, with a number of projects already set to be delivered this year.
These include heritage-led regeneration projects in the historic Mercat Cross and Old Town area, supported by more than £1.3 million funding from Historic Environment Scotland. There will be the development of designs for the renovation of the Alhambra Theatre, John Cowane’s House, and historic public realm in the Baker Street Vennels and Kingstables Lane. It also involves the establishment and delivery of small building and shopfront repair grant schemes and training and education programmes.
Development of an augmented reality (AR) environment in Stirling city centre will see an “enhanced version of the real physical world” achieved through the use of digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology. There will also be digital and physical signs, wayfinding and augmented reality assets, linking to other local communities and attractions, such as the iconic National Wallace Monument.
Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling projects aim to improve active travel and streetscapes at Dumbarton Road, Albert Place and Upper Craigs.
Work will also begin in the Spring to resurface and widen pavements, as well as create safer crossing points alongside protected cycle lanes on the route from Upper Craigs, along the A811 and the Forth Valley College campus.
Finance committee convener Councillor Margaret Brisley said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought new economic challenges and hastened the need to think creatively and positively about the city centre, its function and the unique opportunities it presents for Stirling.
“We are facing the same challenges as all the other town centres across the UK, but we believe Stirling has so many unique characteristics at its fingertips to develop a city centre which is healthy, active, attractive and accessible.
“This new strategy outlines how Stirling Council and its partners will tackle the issue and challenges facing Stirling and how we will go about realising the full potential of our city centre.”
