Research by the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) has indicated that retail developments are a key component in the regeneration of towns and cities affected by the recession.
The study conducted in partnership with Business in the Community and agents DTZ was unveiled at the property organisation¡¦s annual conference at the BT Conference Centre, Liverpool.
The report Retail-led regeneration: why it matters for our communities suggests that high quality retail-led developments have wider benefits to community cohesion and stability beyond mere physical improvements and job creation.
Martyn Chase, head of retail at DTZ and BCSC president, said:
"With the retail development pipeline likely to be curtailed over the next few years, communities badly in need of investment and regeneration may suffer. For developers, there is a clear commercial benefit in taking social impact into account."