CHRISTCHURCH has been identified as one of the nation’s shopping success stories.

The town – which saw the Meteor Retail Park open last year – has been highlighted as one of the booming areas for retail in the south west.

Commercial property specialist Colliers International found that prime retail rents in the borough rose by 19 per cent year-on-year, ahead of other successful towns including Falmouth, Exeter and Bristol.

The borough saw developers competing for several years to open a new supermarket outside the town centre. The Meteor Retail Park, opened last year, includes Bathstore, Matalan, Aldi, Poundland, Sports Direct and TK Maxx.

Cllr David Jones is the county councillor whose patch includes the Meteor Retail Park, while his wife Denise supported the development on Christchurch Borough Council.

He said the retail park would have been a big part of the town’s retail success.

“It’s a really good centre. I know Denise is absolutely delighted with the success of it,” he said.

“As a county councillor I’m concerned that the scheme that was implemented did not have a comprehensive traffic management scheme which was attached to the earlier application that was thrown out because of opposition.

“As a county councillor, I’m working with the county council to get a much better system in place.

“It’s brought new, attractive shops and as a gateway to Christchurch, what would you rather see? The old, broken-down meteor site or the bright, attractive shops. These shops are I think what people want.”

Ian Griffiths, managing director of electrical superstore Purewell in Wilverley Road, said: “Purewell has been trading in Christchurch for over 60 years and we consider ourselves lucky to operate in such a supportive town. Retail conditions have been tough nationwide but it is thanks to the loyal support of Christchurch residents that our business is able to survive and thrive.

“Meteor Retail Park has really transformed the east of Christchurch and made it more of a destination with customers visiting our store from further afield than before.”

Colliers International tracks the progress of key retail locations throughout the UK and found retail rents had grown 2.5 per cent in the south west.

Its report, Survival of the Fittest, examines how retail and property have reacted to the big political and business changes of the past 12 months.

At the report’s launch in Bristol, Colliers International retail director Nick Turk said the south west had seen “the strongest regional annual rental growth performance in England outside of London and the South East”.He added: “A total of 39 per cent of South West locations recorded rental increases, which is more than double the UK average.“Yet the South West also exemplifies the polarisation of retail. While there has been an increase in rents, 11 per cent of locations also saw a decline compared to no decline being noted in 2016.”

The report monitors rents and empty shops in 420 locations across the UK.

It found the fate of former BHS sites was a good barometer of retail demand generally.

But Mr Turk warned: “My gut says that the days of the department store are numbered except for the best, in the best locations. There will always be a place for the likes of Selfridges and John Lewis because of the locations they occupy and the quality of the fit out and products available.

“However, a large store with no specific USP (unique selling point) will struggle in the internet-based world that allows you to look at different brands and get the best price on your smartphone without leaving your favourite chair, clasping a cold beer of a gin and tonic. In essence, it is the fittest that survive, and BHS was out of shape long ago.”