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26/07/2006, 2:42 PM Edd Joined on 13/11/2004 Norfolk Posts 7 Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich   I’m a Geography undergraduate studying at Reading University and this summer I am conducting research for my dissertation entitled "Has Norwich City Council’s Decision to Develop the Chapelfield Shopping Centre Been Justified?" The work will examine the justification for and the impacts of Chapelfield on the city’s existing retail outlets including the Castle Mall. I would dearly like to hear or receive any opinions you may have on shopping in Norwich, especially your views on the new Chapelfield Shopping Centre. Has your shopping experienced improved? Do you think Norwich needs the Chapelfield centre or do you use other retail areas in Norwich more or less regularly as a result of its opening. All information and interviews given to me will be dealt with in strict confidence in accordance with Reading University rules. If you have any information, particularly if you own a business in Norwich then please don't hesitate to get in contact with me. My findings and my final report will be made available to anyone who participates in my research. Thanks for your time, lets get to the bottom of retail in Norwich! Edd Smith, Norwich    Report

26/07/2006, 4:35 PM Scaramouche Joined on 02/04/2006 obscure Posts 1,001 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Some interesting issues here young Edd. Leaving aside the factor of whether one admires the Mall Experience, Norwich's decision to add a second such centre to strengthen its retail ratings, may actually leave it  far weaker and thus more vulnerable to any future retailing recession. By and large, Norwich in the past has fared less badly during economic downturns. Being mainly service industry and retail based, it was cushioned from the savagery that afflicted cities with manufacturing presence. Today it appears over-reliant on retailing. Without motorway access it can only marginally increase its catchment, so the retail revenue cake shows only a slight growth compared to the substantial increase in City-based retail outlets. Which means things are going to be sliced thinner, and profits (where they exist) marginalised. The High Street has always been about winners and losers, but I suspect there are going to be a lot more of the latter in the months ahead. And should the global economy suffer a serious downturn, then this time, Norwich could be in real trouble. Economically, its turned itself out as a one-trick pony, and that can't be clever.    Report

26/07/2006, 9:51 PM Autismuk Joined on 23/03/2004 Archantville Posts 1,313 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich First thing. Archant do an excellent 'search' thing on their two papers (NEN and EDP), and I'd get both the searches for Chapelfield. It reminds me of London when I lived there in the late 80s ; there was lots of building of shopping centres without any thought as to whether there were actually enough shops. There was an arcade built in South Kensington which I'm not sure has ever seen a shop ; certainly not the last time I went there. A fundamental problem in Norwich is that AFAIK the Castle Mall has never actually been entirely occupied ; there is no obvious shortage of capacity in Norwich. Norwich is limited because of its location ; people don't pass through Norwich to somewhere else. The number of people visiting will not change significantly. Given the Mall's obvious location advantage, the only way Chapelfield can compete is cheaper rates AFAICS, whether this is true or not I don't know. It certainly won't ever be in a 'hub' location because of where it is. Its aim, perhaps, was to try to become an 'event' shopping centre like Meadowhall (Sheffield) Bluewater (Gravesend) Metro Centre (Gateshead) for example. Somewhere you actually deliberately decide to visit.  No chance, simply isn't big enough. It's just 'another shopping centre' ; you might go there while visiting Norwich, you might not, but no-one is going to say "let's go to Chapelfield". Chapelfield itself is stupendously dull ; most of the shops sell pricey tat. There's no variety or interest, even compared to the Castle Mall. It's the same old shops selling the same old stuff as you find everywhere else. Mostly pricey clothes shops, the usual innumerable mobile phone shops.  It's *boring*. I remember we went to visit it after it had been open a day or two, and I remember thinking then what a huge disappointment it was. Apart from possible financial gains, I can't see any benefit in moving from the Mall to Chapelfield. What does Chapelfield *add* to Norwich for me ? Nothing. The only shop I ever visit is the Bookshop (Borders, which is excellent).  More to the point my wife doesn't either. We go to Norwich quite a lot, but if we ever go to Chapelfields it's either for the Bookshop or to eat a Pizza. It's also located away from the centre which doesn't help ; not far, but you actually have to make the *effort* to visit Chapelfield - even though it is not far away ; it's not "just there" as the Castle Mall is ; integrated into the city centre. My understanding is it is struggling already ; there are already problems in the fast food floor with outlets closing. We ate there the other day ; the whole area was pretty empty, even McDonalds. There's nothing much they can do to improve it either ; there's not even the space to have events like they could in the Market space or the Mall. It will, IMO, stagnate and possibly die. Why was it built ? I wonder if it is simply that the Council feels it can build its way out of a financial mess (hence the development around the bus station, and the supposed "Hospital Link Road" (aka excuse to build lots of housing estates)).    Report

27/07/2006, 7:19 PM nevermind Joined on 29/09/2003 Posts 2,412 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Since the Chapelfield Lendlease development has taken hold, more small shops have given up, leaving a lot of small retail spaces and empty shops. I campaigned against Chapelfield and its transport issues with exactly those fears, still the City went ahead, as any delay would have costed the taxpayer dearly. For a prime City centre site, this development is not only boring, its a disgrace to have something like that put in front of you, its a carbunkel of the sorst kind with its Gurken tower badly mimicking Londons real thing. Anglia Square shopping centre, there for years has had the breaks put on new development for years, I know because I talked to Roy Ruggles the centre's manager. He was seething when he showed me the plans for a development just next to it, and it was refused. Anglia Square, althoug in the not so proseprous north of Norwich, should have been allowed to expand.   I hjave never shopped in Chapelfield and shall not set foot in it. I have not spent any money in the Caastle Mall either, another unfilled space which would have made a marvellous swimming pool, bhut there you go, can't have everything. As yet I have not had any need to go into these shopping centres and spend money, they are obsolete and not very attractive. nevermind    Report

27/07/2006, 8:03 PM Lynda Joined on 22/03/2004 Norwich Posts 2,491 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich I must admit I was rather disappointed when I saw the boring shops in Chapelfield.     The building, although rather uninspiring, is rather better than a dilapidated, closed down, chocolate factory!   I didn't mind the factory when it was operational but, when it closed, it looked rather sad and derelict.     The smart new building is a visual improvement.   However, there should have been a greater variety of shops in there also why don't they put on events in the Mall like Castle Mall does?    Castle Mall have fashion shows, radio roadshows, Santa in his Grotto, dance/gymnastic displays and other entertainment.   What entertainment has Chapelfield had?    On the day it opened there was a music group but I haven't heard of anything in there since. I still am not sure whether to like the "Gherkin" on top of the building or not! Lynda  Technology is great when it works.    Report

28/07/2006, 12:42 PM Edd Joined on 13/11/2004 Norfolk Posts 7 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Hello everybody, your responses to my original post have been fantastic. My research is now in full swing but more of these posts will only help to enhance my research, research which i aim to present to the city council in the near future. I have now done about 100 public questionnaires in the city centre and a few interesting things are beginning to crop up. Firstly how boring the Chapelfield shopping centre is, secondly the number of people just using Castle Mall for the post office and thirdly the lack of a wide variety of shops in Chapelfield. I believe the council's main aim for the new centre has always been to promote Norwich's position in the retail charts. I have recently obtained retail data showing just how well Norwich is performing in the light of national retail decline. But can it really be said that Chapelfield is helping this? I think not, a centre which appears to be underperforming. I am now making contact with Jarrold's as i'm very interested in how well it is performing despite the increased competition in the city. Could it be that although the Chapelfield is a waste of space it has infact pushed or awaken the retail sector in Norwich, encouraging shops such as Jarrold's to improve. I'm hoping in the next few days to launch my questionnaire online and i would dearly love people using this forum (including friends and family) to complete it for. The more stats i have the better my research. What has dawned on me though is the sheer scale of this issue. Thanks again, keep on replying if you can, no matter how small or insignificant it will help me i promise. Edd    Report

28/07/2006, 3:02 PM runboy Joined on 15/09/2003 Posts 324 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Autismuk A quick question-why do you go to Chapelfield to visit Pizzahut when there are two others in the city? Is it ease of parking? Just curious as if you are going to either cinema (ster or odeon) then there are closer Pizzahuts than Chapelfield.        Report

28/07/2006, 6:24 PM Lynda Joined on 22/03/2004 Norwich Posts 2,491 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Edd, I believe when you receive the results back from Jarrolds they will be in order of an increase in business.    Jarrolds have worked hard to modernise their store in the past few years and have even introduced a hairdressing salon.   They used to have a hairdressing salon years ago but that moved out and I believe are still in London Street.  They also have introduced a delicatessen in recent years. Jarrolds certainly have a very good reputation Lynda  Technology is great when it works.    Report

28/07/2006, 6:29 PM Lynda Joined on 22/03/2004 Norwich Posts 2,491 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich I forgot to mention that, when Castle Mall first opened in 1993, it was feared that would take away business from the surrounding shops but the opposite was the case.   People flocked into the city to see the new Mall (which had only a few retail units filled at that time) then went to the surrounding shops to complete their shopping.  Perhaps Chapelfield is having the same result? Lynda  Technology is great when it works.    Report

28/07/2006, 6:52 PM Autismuk Joined on 23/03/2004 Archantville Posts 1,313 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich ...... probably because the Chapelfield one is quieter than the one in the centre (which seems to have a permanent queue on the pavement outside). Where's the other one ?    Report

28/07/2006, 11:50 PM runboy Joined on 15/09/2003 Posts 324 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich The other is at Riverside-handy for the cinema as you can park, have a pizza, watch a film and the car park will be free or about a pound, depending on how long over the 'free' period you are. I have yet to visit the food court in Chapelfield, and at most go into the complex once a month.    Report

30/07/2006, 11:42 AM Edd Joined on 13/11/2004 Norfolk Posts 7 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Some interesting points are cropping up here. Firstly Jarrold's seems to be doing very well in spite of the Chapelfield centre. Could this be because they have accepted Chapelfield rather than complaing about it? What i have found in my research is that shoppers are actually quite bored of Chapelfield. It is a clone, without a local feel to the design or the shops which it provides. With national retail at a low Chapelfield is suffering but has Norwich ever been a city for designer shopping? The Castle Mall has always had this local feel to it and in addition it is wonderfully blended into its historic surroundings. Of course the Chapelfield Centre is better than what was on the site previously, but has this been the best use of the space. What do you think? What do people think of the Norwich Lanes area? Would they prefer to shop there than at Chapelfield and why? Oh and last thing, the restaurants in Chapelfield are an utter disgrace, selling fatty, fast food with few customers to boot! Edd    Report

30/07/2006, 1:43 PM Lynda Joined on 22/03/2004 Norwich Posts 2,491 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich Edd, I certainly agree with your latest post on this thread! I like the Norwich Lanes (the charity shop I help out in is in St Benedict's Streeet) as there is a diversity of small, local shops.  I find the Norwich Lanes handy as this area is on my way home and it is easy to just nip into a shop, buy something then leave the shop without the hassle of finding the shop you want then having to queue for ages to pay. Lynda  Technology is great when it works.    Report

30/07/2006, 8:53 PM Autismuk Joined on 23/03/2004 Archantville Posts 1,313 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich No, it's because the population of Norwich is fairly stable and know shops like Jarrolds and Bonds (as many of us still call it, it's now John Lewis I think). People know what to expect, they've been there since the dawn of time. Why would anyone go to Chapelfield (except the bookshop !)  ; what possible reason unless you want to by overpriced clothes made in chinese sweatshops ?    Report

31/07/2006, 12:20 PM Baconsdozen Joined on 02/09/2003 Lowestoft Posts 1,090 Re: Chapelfield Shopping Centre: Dissertation Research in Norwich The problem is the smaller specialised shops can't afford sky high rents on big units that they would never fill anway.The only stores that can fill them and turn over enough stock to pay the rents etc do so by selling quantities of cheaply made junk.People who go there might go once,out of curiosity but the serious tat buyers are better catered for by the out of town superstores so beloved by planners,where low buying in price is the only justification for stocking items. Just a load of old tools    Report

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