A list of the different types of Al shops in the St Ives Town Centre from "Antiques" to "Video Hire" is set out in the St Ives Fact File. Table 6 shows that the diversity range has increased in St Ives with the addition of 5 new types of Class Al outlets, suggesting that the town centre is retaining and developing its vitality and viability more successfully than Huntingdon and St Neots, at least in terms of retail diversity.

Table 6

Charity and Gift outlets have increased significantly but a decline is shown in Footwear, Office Supplies and TV/Audio outlets.

Class A2 outlets remain in unchanged numbers since 1993 but Class A3 outlets,

despite the exclusion of private Social Clubs, have increased in number with significant

additions in the Café/Restaurant/Take-away grouping.. Sui Generis outlets are also recorded in increased numbers, principally due to revised definitions and classifications used for the 1996 survey.

An assessment of the survey results reveals that 29 National Multiple Retailers were recorded to be trading in St Ives town centre. (See list in St Ives Fact File)

The Prime Shopping frontages in the town centre have been extended since 1993 by the addition of the south side of Market Hill and the whole of Crown Street, as a result of modifications made to the Huntingdonshire Local Plan. The modifications have increased the total length of Prime Shopping Frontages by approximately 30% thereby making direct comparison with earlier surveys impossible. In the extended Prime Shopping Frontage zones Class Al representation stands at 64% of total frontage length. Class A2 representation is 17% and Class A3 representation is 12%.

Source: Retail Premises Survey 1996. Elizabeth Wilson, Director of Operational Services. 1996. Huntingdonshire Planning Services.