A spatial configurative explanation of how inner ring roads affect the location pattern of shops in city and town centres

Abstract

This contribution reveals the inter-relationship between road building and dispersal of economic activities in built environments. Initially, case studies of inner ring road projects at Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Bristol show how their realisation affected the street net of these cities and, accordingly, the location pattern of shops. The topological presentation of according changes allows for a detailed analysis of their relevance in terms of road building and land use development. For this purpose the investigation primarily draws upon Space Syntax method. The results of its application are discussed with reference to planning processes and changes in land use. The way in which a ring road is imposed upon a street net and the specific manner in which it is connected to the relevant streets decides upon the resulting location pattern of shops. Hence, the spatial structure of infrastructures matters in the way it generates various degrees of accessibility and attractiveness to areas in its vicinity in urban centres.