Retailing content

Question 1

What was the original pattern of retailing?

Answer 1

1. The central area

2. Corner shops and shopping parades

Question 2

What process has led to a change in shopping structure over the last 30 years?

Answer 2

Decentralisation- in the last 30 years, there has been decentralisation of retailing and other services such as offices

Question 3

What are the three waves of decentralisation?

Answer 3

1. Wave one- supermarkets etc built in residential areas
2. Wave two- electrical goods and diy retail parks are built on the edge of towns
3. High order comparison goods in large out of town shopping areas e.g. The Trafford centre

Question 4

Name 4 other changes in retailing

Answer 4

1. E-commerce
2. Famers’ markets
3. Small food outlets in the central area
4. Petrol stations now have food retail function

Question 5

What are the causes of decline in the central area?

Answer 5

1. Land values
2. Lack of room for expansion
3. Traffic congestion and high cost of parking
4. Unreliable weather for shopping
5. Perception that the central area is unsafe

Question 6

What are the causes of growth in out of town locations?

Answer 6

1. Cheaper land and room for expansion
2. Increased mobility: roads and car ownership
3. Changing shopping habits: people ‘buy in bulk’ e.g. Food shopping so need access by car
4. Changing expectations: people use shopping as a leisure activity and visit out of town centres which may have fast food outlets and entertainment areas

Question 7

What are the general characteristics of out-of-town retailing centres?

Answer 7

1. Late sites- redeveloped brownfield site or cheap farmland
2. Extensive car parks- often free parking
3. Links to a motorway interchange or ring road
4. Access to transport interchange facilities- bus station, supertram, railway station
5. Linked entertainment facilities e.g. Cinemas, fast food outlets

Question 8

What are the attitudes in favour of out of town developments?

Answer 8

1. Great opportunities to shop without the need to travel to city centres
2. Creates jobs for local people, especially students at weekends and young mothers who want part-time work

Question 9

What are the attitudes against out of town developments?

Answer 9

1. It causes an increase in traffic in the area- creating problems of safety, pollution, noise and parking on local residential streets
2. 24 hour shopping means continual movement of cars and lorries which may cause unacceptable noise levels at night

Question 10

What are the problems with out of town development areas?

Answer 10

1. Competition with local shopping centres in town centres and suburban areas. Blamed at least in part for inner city decline and urban blight
2. Contribute to urban sprawl affecting the rural urban fringe
3. Can cause severe congestion on nearby motorways, often leading to long tailbacks on linked sections of road networks at peak periods
4. Can be socially divisive. Not accessible to everyone e.g. People who can’t drive or don’t own a car

Question 11

Name 3 responses to out of town developments

Answer 11

1. Redevelopment of town centres e.g. The Touchwood centre
2. Growth of ‘outlet centres’. Manufacturers sell old lines or seconds to their customers at reduced prices
3. Development of smaller shopping centres in suburbs such as outlet centre and the small centres which can be known in America as ‘box malls’