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Abstract： |
This paper reviews retail planning policies in the United Kingdom. In the last 20 years, the core aspect of UK’s retail planning has been the ‘Town Centres First’ policy, whose purpose is to revitalize the town centres with concentrated retail growth and reduce urban sprawl, thus achieving sustainable development. The paper also discusses the major tensions that exist in the process of making UK retail planning policies. The study shows that retail planning policy and the ‘Town Centres First’ approach have had to contend not only with the recession, but also with other major structural changes. Besides, town centres are no longer the hubs for many people, and the rise of the internet and mobile shopping have transformed the use of space. As a result, the policy is in danger of being out-moded, despite its good intentions. |
