Exciting projects will shape cityscape for decades to come

Canterbury as a shopping destination could soon become even better. That is if the architects, the developers and the council get it right.

I refer to the two major re-development opportunities offered by the demise of the Nasons and Debenhams department stores. These have released the potential for two large areas at the very heart of the City to become a truly dynamic hub fit for purpose for the aspirations, lifestyles and spending patterns of 21st century consumers. Diversity and constant change is the name of the game for city high streets in the future. Shopping patterns and lifestyles are different in the 21st century. In an online world, shoppers expect very distinctive experiences when visiting high streets. We combine shopping with meeting friends and family so that town centre visits are mainly sociological experiences. Our personal relationships and leisure activities become combined in our time pressurised nonwork hours. The Nasons and Debenhams developments have the potential to respond and re-inforce these lifestyle trends. It is an opportunity that is not to be missed.

In this future-proof environment, there is a constant change and turnover of both small, entrepreneurial traders as well as national retailers. Pop-up shops come and go, responding to everchanging consumer needs. Open spaces and facilities for meetings and gatherings are provided. There are spaces for older people to mingle and establish new friendships. And of course, the usual diversity of restaurants, coffee shops. Social inclusion instead of exclusion become the order of the day.

Basically, this marks the return to the principles of small market towns of the past. And why not? High street shopping in the future must meet the sociological and psychological as well as the economic needs of consumers. The development of the Debenhams and Nasons sites offer a great opportunity for Canterbury to be at the very forefront of these changing expectations. With its strong heritage, there is now the opportunity to reinforce the city’s outstanding distinctiveness compared to nearby shopping destinations such as Bluewater.

Of course, there will be some public objections to both schemes. To be viable, each will require some residential development. But if designed properly and in harmony with the local environment, there is no need for these to prevent the creation of exciting developments that will shape the cityscape of Canterbury for decades to come.

For this scenario to put in place it will require the architects, planners and developers to be people of vision, imagination and selfconfidence. But if, on the other hand, they stick to the old-fashion principles and assumptions that have shaped city centre developments of the past 40 years, a huge opportunity will have been missed.