ABSTRACT
For the 30-odd years following the end of the Second World War, retailing was repeatedly heralded as the most innovative and changeable sector of the property market. New types of shop development emerged one after another: department stores, variety shops, supermarkets, covered shopping precincts, hypermarkets, superstores, district centres and discount warehouses. Preferred locations shifted away from the high street, to adjacent central-area sites, out-of-town to greenfield sites, back to peripheral suburban locations and even “sideways” onto industrial estates. Modern forms of merchandising have altered the shape, size and layout of shops of all kinds, and advances in the methods of distribution have affected the design and position of retail outlets. It can be argued, however, that other commercial sectors are displaying a greater metamorphosis at the present time. Nevertheless, there remains considerable volatility in the shop market and a continuing dynamic in the field of retail development.
