The changing shape of central Blenheim

Central Blenheim has become a place to socialise rather than shop, as retailers close while eateries are going strong.

There are eight fewer retail businesses in the CBD now compared to 2020, a survey of town health has shown. The Marlborough District Council surveys both Blenheim and Picton’s CBD every two years.

Summer student Freya Thompson, who helped the council with the survey, said the drop in retail shops was the most noticeable change, and likely reflected the impact of online shopping and e-commerce.

However, all other business types were doing well comparatively, she said. Of those people visiting the CBD, 64% went for cafes and restaurants.

There were also more vacant spaces, up from 5.7% in 2022 to 8% this year.

“Queen St saw some massive improvements, to do with increased occupancy rates along this area,” Thompson said.

“And the new library was an area that we also saw improvements as well.”

People surveyed said the less attractive areas of Blenheim’s CBD were vacancies, footpaths, upkeep of toilets and the faded blue lampposts.

Watery Mouth Cafe head barista Matthew Wright said their customers were often in the CBD purely for food and drink.

Wright had worked in the CBD for 15 years and said he had noticed the trend shift over time.

“We have a few shoppers ... but it’s mostly people coming in for food and coffee,” Wright said.

Deputy mayor David Croad said it was important the council clearly understood its role within the CBD, given it had lots of different stakeholders.

“There are some key out-takes in here, I believe, that sit clearly with us,” Croad said.

“Faded lampposts, street cleaning, and desirability of toilets: we have got to focus on the things that are in our control.”

Wairau-Awatere ward councillor Gerald Hope said concern was raised about the changing CBD 20 years ago.

Hope said the council, and previous councils, should be proud.

“The investment in the CBD has actually strengthened its potential. So all of the community facilities have made it a much more viable, exciting, place to actually come to.

“The risks are there. I don't want to in any way denigrate our neighbour in Te Tauihu in Nelson, [but] if you just wander the streets in Nelson and look at the challenges that they have, compared to our quite compact CBD ... I think that we are in a strong position for the investment council has made to make sure the CBD has a heart and a soul.

“And I guess, if you come to town now, you have all the social interactions you need, you've got all the eateries, but you've also got some prime retailers, like Thomas' ... Farmers. The message is we've got to support them. They are the life.”

Westwood Business Park opened with Bunnings in 2012 and Pak’nSave in 2013; Kmart opened in 2019, and Chemist Warehouse in 2021. Harvey Norman was expected to shift there from its central Blenheim site in mid-2024.

Westwood also had plans to construct a “neighbourhood shopping” complex beside the Middle Renwick Rd roundabout, which was granted consent in 2022.

That consent was altered in December, to only single-storey buildings instead of some being two-storey, and changes to the layout, which had spaces for retail and a cafe.

Plans for a two-storey development at Westwood Business Park in Blenheim have been altered to one-storey builds. barista Matthew Wright says many people are not in town for retail shopping.