Decentralisation of Retailing

1
Decentralisation of Retailing

• Cerys Manning
• And
• Doug Sussex

2
Introduction

• What is decentralisation of retailing?
• Movement of shopping areas away from the city
  centre
• Creation of out of town shopping centres

• How does it apply to Swansea?
• Swansea was the first city in the UK to have an
  out of town enterprise park
• The retail park is in the Lower Swansea Valley
  north of the city

3
When did decentralisation begin?

• 1970s saw major increase in superstores on edge
  of town sites. e.g Lower Swansea Valley
• Due to easy access
• - cheaper land
• - space to build
• - purpose built store

4
Swansea Enterprise Zone

• In 1981 the area of superstores in LSV was made
  into an Enterprise zone
• 10 years of free taxes for businesses
• Purpose was to provide jobs during time of
  decline
• Aimed at factories but retail warehouses and
  superstores took over.
• Fifth of retail area in city centre.

5
Retail in the city centre

• Growth of retail parks has threatened vitality of
  city centre
• Forced redevelopment of city centre e.g
• - extension of central shopping area
• Quadrant centre and St Davids
  shopping complex extend CBD
  south west
• - small blobs of development on old
  industrial sites expand CBD
• Parc Tawe on north docks site
  expanded the CBD eastwards. Includes Sainsburys
  and JJB Sports
• In some case development is successful in others
  it isnt
• St Davids centre has units empty and many of
  shops have closed

6
Retail Park
City centre
7
Future Plans

• Swansea council objective
• To reinforce and improve city centre as a
  vibrant regional focus for shopping
• City centre - refurbish, expand and develop
  retail outlets to increase levels of activity
• - introduce park and ride
  schemes to reduce traffic congestion and
  encourage city centre shopping
• Regional shopping centres only encourage
  development that will improve environment or
  improve range of facilities within shopping
  district
• Local shops increase service provision where it
  is poor e.g Townhill, maintain facilities in
  other areas.
• Enterprise and Retail Parks - NO MORE
  DEVELOPMENT

8
Summary

• Decentralisation started in 1970s and grew in
  1980s
• Superstores and retail parks sprang up in out of
  town areas
• Superstores caused degeneration of CBD
• Town planners now realise this and are
  redeveloping city centre and preventing any more
  out of town retail growth