Cities and towns with traditionally strong business links and creative workers are under threat from growing competition in country areas, according to a new report (link below.)
http://thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232510&home=yes&more_nodeId1=232470&contentPK=20443553A study by business analysts Morel Research shows that rural areas including St Ives in Cornwall and Torridge in Devon - as well as Wales - are "snapping at the heels" of cities like London and were tipped to be future business "hot spots".
It claims that areas such as Exeter are "sliding down the scale" and many town centres are beginning to look the same.
Such a claim is likely to cause upset in the county capital where millions of pounds have been invested in the creation of the Princesshay shopping complex in the city centre. Exeter had previously been criticised for having very little variety in its high street.
Meanwhile, rural locations have tended to have more independent retailers, leading to diverse high streets that are proving to be inspiring to shoppers.
The report suggests that professional workers are also leaving cities, which could also explain the "creativity boom" in regional areas.
Lucy Hunt, inward investment manager for Cornwall Pure Business, said:
"The success of small towns across the South West, like St Ives and Truro in Cornwall, demonstrates that you don't have to be in the heart of the city to have a successful business.
"Cornwall has invested millions in the past ten years to make the county attractive to entrepreneurs and, as a result, we have seen around a third more knowledge based businesses relocating here in the last year alone.
"There are so many benefits to basing a business in an inspiring environment like ours."
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