Janice Dunphy- PPA Chair covers for Neil Scott Play Concepts on how to overcome planning issues relating to an indoor play centre and why getting a perfect location is such a big factor in the long term success of your business

1. Location, Location, Location
and Planning
Janice Dunphy- The Web

2. Where are Play Centres
located?
20
15
10
5
Frequency
0
Retail/ Industrial Town Other
Leisure Centre
Type of Location

3. What size of site’s are
currently trading?
35
30
25
20
15
10
Percentage 5
0
0-7,500 7,500-10,00 10,000- 12,500- 15,000- 20,000+
12,500 15,000 20,000
Si ze

4. Industrial Estate Retail/ Leisure
Churches!!
Town Centre
Shopping Centre

5. Bubbles Factory: Case Study
The Bubbles Factory opened on the 3rd November 2010 in Carluke, Scotland
A 500sqm - community based indoor soft play and cafe
The £1.1million delivered a very high quality, sensitively designed, environmentally
considerate building including a Scottish government grant of £550,370.00
Local regeneration to drive footfall to other businesses in the town centre

6. What makes a good location?
• High Footfall = Large Catchment Area
• Lack of Competition
• Height of unit
• Car Park
• MUST FIT YOUR BUSINESS PLAN AND MODEL!!
Don’t settle for anything less than perfect!!

7. Invest in Good Design
The design of the physical facility has a profound impact on not only the cost of
the facility, but just as, if not more important, the quality of the guest
experience which directly impacts on revenues and the cost efficiency of
operating the business. Design directly affects:
• Development cost
• How much your guests enjoy the experience of visiting
• How much they spend
• Whether and how often they return
• What it costs to operate the business

8. Planning
• Policy … Town Centres
• Employment
• Highways… Access
• Car Parking
• Public Transport
• Sequential Approach
Do you need professional help?
Change of Use?
How long does it take?
How much will it cost?

9. Planning Recommendations…
• Have a robust approach
• Take early pre-planning advice
• Discuss your proposal with highways
• Establish the availability of Public Transport links
• Demonstrate a need for your proposal
• Understand previous planning approval / refusals