CPO Leeds Eastgate
By RMUK on July 2nd, 2008
Leeds Eastgate Development Threatens RMUK
There is just too much retail development proposed in the Leeds Eastgate scheme, over 1,450,000 sq ft. It is common sense that local businesses like RMUK will suffer with such a large development.
We need to ensure that we are protecting the social and economic vibrancy that drives our communities. City life happens at the neighborhood level. That is where we live, work and shop, and it is where our sense of identity and responsibility toward others begins.
Powerful developers, who often are politically well-connected at the local government level will claim that they are prepared to negotiate with everybody, to appease the Council or to try and get rid of objections, but they won’t help effected local businesses like RMUK unless they are forced to do so.
Local Businesses and RMUK threatened by compulsory purchase orders can not find suitable and affordable properties. This is partly because the existing large development schemes already in Leeds have caused a dearth of supply and with many other affected businesses searching for alternative premises too.
RMUK are not entitled under the law of compulsory purchase to have a place which is like for like – whilst it has always been intended that someone affected by a CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) should be compensated so that they are no better or worse off than before, in reality that does not happen very often.
Putting profit first!
An increase of 1,450,000 sq ft in Leeds city center’s retail space is set to destroy existing businesses.
Leeds City Council & Eastgate – should be carefully considering the importance of local trader’s continuance in existence.
Local businesses are rapidly disappearing as larger retailers increasingly dominate almost every sector of the economy. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the demise of local businesses is not the inevitable result of market forces and consumer choices. Public policy at all levels of local government has played a major role in fueling the growth of large retailers at the expense of Leeds independent small businesses.
Leeds City Council must level the playing field and allow our businesses to grow and flourish, the council must enact policies that ensure the future of local businesses like RMUK, local Councilors must be held accountable for their actions, their first priority are the people they serve, not the big retail giants and the developers.
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