Why it matters: Lord Rose's views carry weight in the retail sector, given his experience leading major UK retailers. His assessment of Ipswich comes at a crucial time for town centres nationwide struggling with changing shopping habits and economic pressures.
The big picture: Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, Lord Rose, who has lived in Suffolk for 25 years, described Ipswich as "great" with "great potential" – a notable shift from 2012 when he called the Cornhill area "shabby."
Current challenges: Lord Rose highlighted several key issues facing the town:
Consumer confidence: "People are a bit nervous and they are worried about tomorrow, they're worried about what is going to happen with inflation, tax rises, etc."
Shopping habits: "The sad thing is why did the people with the big space move out in the first place? Is there some case that we can try and get them back in again?"
Access issues: "Do we want to go around the ring road all the time and stop off at Martlesham here and somewhere else there?"
What others are saying: Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, described December as "drab" and 2024 as a "disappointing year for UK retail footfall" but Ipswich Central CEO Lee Walker believes there is room for optimism for Ipswich's town centre.
“Lord Rose has a long and distinguished track record in retail, specifically in rebuilding brands with a proud history, and it’s pleasing that he can see the potential Ipswich has.
"We saw a number of strong new brands and businesses opening in the town centre over the last 6 months, and building on this, our premier league football team and top tier cultural offer will be core to delivering a reimagined town centre that attracts new visitors, workers and consumers.”
Solutions needed: "We need to find ways to incentivise people and change the big spaces into smaller spaces," Lord Rose told BBC Radio Suffolk, adding that the town centre needed to be "repurposed" while making it easier for people "to do things."
Bottom line: While acknowledging significant challenges, Lord Rose believes Ipswich can overcome its retail difficulties if the right steps are taken to transform the town centre and improve accessibility.
