Dorset Retail, Leisure and Town Centres Study Update (2026)
This updated study, prepared by Lambert Smith Hampton for Dorset Council, provides a fresh assessment of retail and commercial leisure provision across the Dorset Council area. Building on earlier evidence and incorporating new data on shopping behaviour and expenditure patterns, it offers an up to date understanding of how current and emerging economic and market trends are shaping Dorset’s town centres.
Dorset Retail, Leisure and Town Centres Study Update – March 2026
Appendix A – Economic and Market Trends
Appendix B – Shopping & Leisure Patterns and Retail Capacity Assessment
The findings form a key component of the evidence base for the emerging Dorset Council Local Plan. The study sets out the national and local planning policy context, assesses current market trends affecting retail and leisure, and provides updated evidence on expenditure and shopping patterns across Dorset. The report also summarises the key findings from the 2023/24 Town Centre Health Checks and provides a quantitative assessment of future retail and leisure capacity.
The study also identifies the policy implications arising from this evidence, helping to guide planning policy, support the ongoing vitality of town centres, and ensure that Dorset’s retail and leisure offer remains resilient and well aligned with the needs of local communities.
Town Centre Health Checks (2025)
Dorset Council carries out regular health checks to understand how well our town, district and local centres are performing. This work supports the emerging Dorset Council Local Plan and helps guide decisions on retail hierarchy, town centre boundaries and future sites for retail and leisure uses.
Town Centre Health Checks 2023/24 – December 2025
Each centre is assessed against key indicators set out in national planning guidance, including:
- mix of shops and services
- vacant units
- independent vs multiple retailers
- accessibility and parking
- evening and nighttime uses
- environmental quality and safety
Between April 2023 and March 2024, officers visited each centre to record:
- use and occupancy of commercial premises
- business type and use class
- presence of independent or chain stores
- floor area and rental information (from Valuation Office Agency data)
Each report also includes a map, summary of retail mix, notes on local accessibility and any potential development opportunities.
High resolution maps for Tier 1 & 2 Town Centres:
Dorchester (Town Centre) (PDF, 20MB)
Previous studies
Dorset Retail & Leisure Study Update (2022)
Dorset Council commissioned Lambert Smith Hampton to update the evidence base on retail, commercial leisure and town centres to support the emerging Dorset Council Local Plan. The study brings together the findings of previous retail and leisure assessments undertaken across the former district and borough councils prior to local government reorganisation in 2019.
The update provides new forecasts for the need (or “capacity”) for additional convenience and comparison retail floorspace, as well as commercial leisure facilities, looking ahead to 2040. It uses the latest available data on population growth, spending patterns, retail trends and the continued impacts of COVID-19, alongside a review of committed development.
The report includes:
- updated planning policy context
- current retail and leisure sector trends
- assumptions used in the capacity modelling
- detailed capacity outputs
- an assessment of leisure provision and potential gaps
- overall findings to guide future planning in Dorset