Recent ‘best practice’ research and guidance has emphasised the important role that can be played by retail-led urban regeneration projects, particularly in ‘under-served markets’ in the UK. This builds on ideas first formulated in the USA by Michael Porter through his close relationship with the Initiative for the Competitive Inner City (ICIC). This paper critically examines the role of retailing in urban regeneration nationally and locally in the UK, focusing on in-town shopping centres located in inner city areas of the UK. The paper is based on case study research in these centres, and was completed during 2003 for The Office of Science and Technology. The paper examines how employment impact in retail-led regeneration is commonly measured, and calls for more research to determine the real impact of retail in deprived communities using other, relevant measures.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)Initiative for the Competitive Inner City (ICIC) (1998) The Business Case for Pursuing Retail Opportunities in the Inner City (Boston, Mass.: Boston Consulting Group).
2.
BurtS.SparksL. (2003) Competitive Analysis of the Retail Sector in the UK: A Report for The Department of Trade and Industry (University of Sterling: Institute for Retail Studies).
3.
CarleyM.KirkK.McIntoshS. (2001) Retailing, Sustainability and Neighbourhood Regeneration (York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation).
4.
ChattertonP.HollandsR. (2003) Urban Nightscapes: Youth Culture, Pleasure Spaces and Corporate Power (London and New York: Routledge).
5.
Comedia (2003) Releasing the Cultural Potential of Our Core Cities, Report for Core Cities Group (London: Comedia), www.comedia.org.uk.
6.
Competition Commission (2000) Supermarkets: A Report on the Supply of Groceries from Multiple Stores in the UK (London: Competition Commission).
7.
Cushman & Wakefield/Healey & Baker (2004) The Financing of Retail Property Development in the UK: A Report for The Department of Trade and Industry (London: Cushman & Wakefield/ Healey & Baker).
8.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)Business in the Community (BiTC) (2003) Business Investment in Under-Served Markets: An Opportunity for Businesses and Communities? (London: DTI & BITC).
9.
DETR (2000) Final Evaluation of City Challenge (DETR, London: KPMG Consulting).
10.
DixonT.MarstonA. (2003a) The Role of UK Retailing in Urban Regeneration (Reading: College of Estate Management).
11.
DixonT.MarstonA. (2003b) Mixed Use Urban Regeneration at Brindleyplace, Birmingham and Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth: An Assessment of the Impact on Local and National Economies (Reading: College of Estate Management).
12.
DTZ Pieda (2004) The Retail Development Process and Land Assembly (Volumes 1 and 2): A Report for The Department of Trade and Industry (London: DTZ Pieda).
13.
DunhamP.BerkeleyN.HealeyM.NoonD. (1994) Developing a local retail strategy: a case study of Leicester, Local Economy, 8(4), pp. 352–374.
14.
GuarigliaA. (1999) Superstores and Labour Demand: Evidence from Great Britain (University of Essex: Department of Economics).
15.
Institute for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC)/Small Business Service (2003) City Growth Strategy; A New Agenda for Business-led Urban Regeneration (London: ICIC/SBS).
16.
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Business for Social Responsibility (2002) Development in Underserved Retail Markets (New York: ICSC).
17.
London Development Agency (2003) City Growth Strategy: London South Central (London: London Development Agency).
18.
LyonM.BertottiF.EvansM.SmallboneD.PottsG.RamsdenP. (2002) Measuring Enterprise Impacts in Deprived Areas (London: Small Business Service).
19.
MacGillivrayA.PottsG.RaymondP. (2002) Secrets of their Success: Fast Growth Business in Britain's Inner Cities (London: New Economics Foundation).
20.
National Retail Planning Federation (NRPF) (1998) The Impact of Out-of-town Food Superstores on Local Retail Employment (London: NRPF).
21.
Neighbourhood Renewal Unit/ British Retail Consortium (2003) Research Report 6: Changing Practices- A Good Practice Guide for Businesses Locating in Deprived Areas (London: Office of Deputy Prime Minister).
22.
NorthD.SmallboneD.LyonF.PottsG. (2003) Research Report 5: Business-led Regeneration of Deprived Areas: A Review of the Evidence Base - Report for Office of Deputy Prime Minister (London: Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and Small Business Service).
23.
OramJ.ConisbeeM.SimmsA. (2004) Ghost Town Britain II: Death to the High Street (London: New Economics Foundation).
24.
PMA (2001) What Makes a Successful Shopping Centre Scheme? (London: National Retail Planning Forum).
25.
PorterM. (1995) The competitive advantage of the inner city, Harvard Business Review, May–June, pp. 55–71.
26.
RamM.SmallboneD. (2001) Ethnic Minority Enterprise: Policy in Practice, Final Report prepared for the Small Business Service (London: Small Business Service).
27.
Retail Strategy Group (2004) The Retail Strategy Group Report: Driving Change (London: Department of Trade and Industry).
28.
SimmsA.OramJ.MacGillivrayA.DruryJ. (2003) Ghost Town Britain: The Threat from Economic Globalisation to Livelihoods, Liberty and Local Economic Freedom (London: New Economics Foundation).
29.
Small Business Service (2001) City Growth Strategies (London: Small Business Service, Department of Trade and Industry).
30.
Templeton College (2004) Assessing the Productivity of the UK Retail Sector: Report for The Department of Trade and Industry (Oxford: Templeton College).
31.
TownsendA.SadlerD.HudsonR. (1996) Geographical dimensions of UK retailing employment change, in: WrigleyN.LoweM. (Eds), Retailing, Consumption and Capital: Towards the New Retail Geography (London: Longman).
32.
Universities of Ulster, Aberdeen & Glasgow (2003) Benchmarking Urban Regeneration: The Potential for Property Markets in Regeneration Areas (London: RICS Foundation).
33.
WardB.LewisJ. (2002) Plugging the Leaks: Making the Most of Every Pound that Enters Your Local Economy (London: New Economics Foundation).
34.
WestwoodA.ReynoldsL. (2004) Who is being Served? McDonald's and the UK Enterprise Agenda (London: The Work Foundation).
35.
WhysallP. (1995) Regenerating inner city shopping centres: the British experience, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2(1), pp. 3–13.
