Opposition to regional shopping centres in Great Britain: a clash of cultures?

Abstract

Despite the existence of a fervent opposition to regional shopping centres (RSCs) in Britain, this article argues that there is little evidence to support the view that they have negative economic, social and environmental impacts. Instead, the vehement rejection of RSCs is asserted to be at least as much due to their cultural impacts as their economic, social and environmental impacts. In examining their cultural impacts, this paper explores a dimension that has so far remained unconsidered in the retail literature but which may well help to explain more fully the strength of the opposition to RSCs in contemporary Britain.