Repurposing retail space: exploring stakeholder relationships

Jackson, C., Lawson, V., Orr, A. and White, J. (2023) Repurposing retail space: exploring stakeholder relationships. Urban Studies, (doi: 10.1177/00420980231178776) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

The retail sector is experiencing unprecedented change, from ongoing shifts in shopping behaviour to retailer rationalisation and business failure. Internationally, this is impacting the crucial economic and social role of many highly developed city centres. This paper examines how key stakeholders have responded to the challenges of adapting city centres for the future. Empirically, the paper draws on a series of repurposing schemes across five case study cities. Conceptually, theories of assemblage are used as an analytical framework to understand how heterogeneous networks combine to repurpose city centres. The paper makes a distinctive contribution by revealing symbiosis between mixed uses that challenge traditional high street norms, and suggests that harnessing common desires could underpin productive shared governance and support business communities’ efforts to bring vibrancy and enhance resilience.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Economic, Social and Research Council [grant number ES/R005117/1].
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: White, Professor James and Lawson, Dr Victoria and Orr, Dr Allison
• Authors: Jackson, C., Lawson, V., Orr, A., and White, J.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Urban Studies
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0042-0980
• ISSN (Online): 1360-063X
• Published Online: 14 June 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Urban Studies 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
300058		Real Estates Adaptation and Innovation within an Integrated Retailing System	Allison Orr	Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)	ES/R005117/1	S&PS - Urban Studies