Good quality space is an attraction in its own right, encouraging people to return to the centre. This new space can either reinforce or change the existing patterns of space and activity within the city centre. The development of shopping centres provides an opportunity to formalise public space, generating a new urban fabric. Space use and access issues that need to be addressed as part of the design include the following. Creating successful public spaces and establishing links with surrounding areas to maximise permeability are important design issues that can affect the long-term performance of a development. These qualities attract customers and assist in creating a wider sense of community. To be successful, a centre should accommodate the correct mix of uses, attract the right tenants and provide a safe and attractive place to visit. They are workplaces, meeting places and, as leisure becomes an increasingly important component of the tenant mix, places to entertain, socialise and enjoy on their own account. However, shopping centres do not function solely as a retail destination. Attracting customers and encouraging them stay will, of course, benefit the tenants and, by extension, the centre’s owner. By providing the appropriate mix of shops and leisure, a shopping centre will help to ensure that a city has the right retail offer to meet the needs of its population. The role of shopping centres in citiesThe principal role of a shopping centre is as a focus and stage for retail and leisure activity.

According to the British Council of Shopping Centres, more than £685m was spent on the construction of purpose-built shopping centres and retail parks during 2000 alone.

Figures available for 1999-2000 show that the amount of lettable floorspace in shopping centres increased nearly 10%, to about 21,000,000 m2 over the two-year period. Although 11 of the UK’s top 20 shopping centres are in the centre of towns or cities, recent shopping centre development has been driven by the development of out-of-town regional shopping centres and factory outlet centres. Unlike the high street, where the concept of the “business improvement district” is still in its infancy, the shopping centre environment can be easily controlled, branded and actively managed to add value for customers, tenants and investors. Shopping centres return to the high streetShopping centres are particularly attractive to developers and investors because of their resilience and diversity compared with individual high street properties.

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Shopping center construction