Why is retail provision changing? (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography B): Revision Note

Specification links

The notes on this page cover part 1.2.4 of the WJEC Eduqas B specification.

1.2.4 - What is the cause and effect of change in retail provision across the UK?

• The cause and effect of change in retailing (shopping).

• Changes in where shops are located to include the decline of shopping areas within CBDs and the rise of out-of-town retail parks.

• Coverage must include the concepts of range, threshold population and catchment area.

• How technology is changing how and where we shop.

• The social, economic and environmental impact of increased online shopping.

Retail change in the UK

• Shopping in the UK has changed dramatically in recent decades

• Economic shifts, new technology, and changing lifestyles have transformed how and where people buy goods

Past patterns

• In the 1950s and 1960s, most shopping took place in town centres or small local stores

• As car ownership increased, people travelled further for shopping, encouraging new retail locations

Recent patterns

• CBDs have seen a decline in traditional high-street shopping due to competition from retail parks and online sales

• Retail parks and shopping malls have grown around the edges of towns and cities

• Online shopping now accounts for around 25% of all UK retail sales

Causes of change

• Changes in retailing are driven by economic, social, and technological factors

• Increased car ownership

  • More people own cars, which allows them to travel easily to larger shops and retail parks outside city centres

• Improved transport infrastructure

  • Motorways and ring roads provide quick access to edge-of-town locations with more space and lower rents

• Lifestyle and working changes

  • Longer working hours and flexible shifts make people prefer convenient one-stop destinations or online options

• Rising land costs in CBDs

  • Central locations are expensive to rent, which pushes large retailers to seek cheaper land on the outskirts

• Growth of internet access and smartphones

  • Shopping can now be done online anywhere, anytime, reducing footfall in physical stores

• Example

  • MetroCentre in Gateshead and Bluewater in Kent both developed near major roads (A1 and M25) to attract customers with easy car access and free parking

Decline of CBD retailing

• Town and city centres were once the heart of UK retail, but they now face serious challenges

• Causes of decline

  • Competition from out-of-town shopping and online stores

  • High rents and parking charges in CBDs discourage customers

  • Congestion makes it harder to reach city-centre shops

  • Changes in shopping habits favour convenience and leisure-based experiences

• Effects of decline

  • Empty shops and loss of local identity in traditional high streets

  • Job losses in small independent retailers

  • Fall in city-centre footfall and spending power

  • Shift towards cafés, restaurants, and entertainment instead of pure retail

• Responses to decline

  • Pedestrianisation and improved public transport to make centres more pleasant

  • Town-centre regeneration projects are creating mixed-use zones for living, shopping, and leisure

• Events and markets that attract visitors and support local businesses

• Examples

  • Liverpool One redevelopment revitalised the city centre with new shopping and leisure spaces

  • Bristol Broadmead and Cabot Circus integrate shops, cafés, and open spaces to draw customers back into the CBD

Rise of out-of-town retail parks

• Out-of-town retail parks have grown rapidly since the 1980s

• They offer space, accessibility, and convenience for both shoppers and businesses

• Characteristics

  • Large, single-storey units for furniture, electrical, or clothing retailers

  • Easy car access and free parking

  • Often include cinemas, restaurants, and leisure facilities

• Reasons for growth

  • Lower land and building costs compared with CBDs

  • Close to major roads and motorways for easy access

  • Space for expansion and storage

  • Shopping experience combined with leisure

• Examples

  • Cribbs Causeway near Bristol

  • Meadowhall in Sheffield

  • Cheshire Oaks near Ellesmere Port

• Effects on CBDs

  • Draws customers away from traditional high streets

  • Creates traffic congestion on ring roads

  • Generates new jobs and investment in suburban areas

Retail concepts: range, threshold, and catchment

• All places offer certain functions and services, such as basics like bread, milk, eggs, etc.

• A settlement's physical and population size will determine the number of services it offers

• There are exceptions to this:

  • Some places may have more services than average, such as a small seaside resort 

  • Others have fewer, such as a commuter or dormitory town

Range

• The range is the distance customers are prepared to travel to buy a product

  • Low-order goods

    • Things that are bought regularly, such as milk or bread

    • People are not prepared to travel far to buy a convenience good and there is no real saving in shopping around

    • The extra cost of ‘shopping around’ outweighs any savings that may be made

  • High-order goods

    • Comparison goods, such as electrical goods and furniture, that the shopper will buy only after making a comparison between various models and different shops

    • A high threshold population is needed to sustain a shop selling comparison goods

    • People are prepared to travel some distance to obtain the goods 

Threshold population

• The minimum number of people necessary before a particular good or service will be provided in the area is called the threshold population

• A small village or hamlet with a small populace will only provide low-order services such as a post office, general store, pub and possibly a doctor 

• Towns will provide low- and high-order services such as a church, medical centre, garages, schools and restaurants 

• Cities and conurbations will focus on high-order services such as leisure centres, schools, churches, chain stores and hospitals

Catchment area

• The catchment area is the surrounding area that provides customers for a shop or centre

• Out-of-town parks have wide catchment areas because of easy motorway access

• City centres have smaller catchment areas limited by congestion and parking

Example

• Bluewater Shopping Centre has a catchment area of more than 6 million people across South East England

Technology and impact on retail

• The rise of the internet has changed every part of retailing

• Consumers can now browse, compare, and buy products from home or mobile devices

Reasons for growth

• Fast home delivery and easy returns

• 24-hour access and wide product choice

• Price comparison sites help shoppers find cheaper deals

• Social media advertising encourages online purchasing

Impacts on traditional retail

• Many physical stores have closed as customers shift online

• Big chains such as Debenhams and Arcadia collapsed partly due to online competition

• Town centres adapt by focusing on leisure, cafés, and experiences rather than pure shopping

Benefits of online shopping

• Convenient and saves time for customers

• Expands market reach for small businesses

• Reduces the need for large retail space

Challenges of online shopping

• Decline in local shops and community interaction

• Packaging waste and increased delivery emissions

• Job losses in physical retail sectors

Social, economic, and environmental impacts of increased online shopping

• Social impacts

  • Local high streets lose their role as social meeting places

  • Older people or those without internet access may find it harder to shop

  • Increased isolation as fewer people visit physical shops

• Economic impacts

  • Job losses in local shops are balanced by growth in the warehousing and delivery sectors

  • High-street rents fall while logistics hubs grow around motorways

  • Small online businesses and entrepreneurs gain new opportunities

• Environmental impacts

  • Delivery vans and packaging increase carbon emissions

  • However, fewer individual shopping trips can lower total car use if managed efficiently

  • Increased recycling is needed to deal with cardboard and plastic waste

• Example

  • The Amazon fulfilment centres in the Midlands have created jobs, but they have raised concerns about traffic and emissions from delivery vehicles

The future of retail in the UK

• Town centres are shifting towards mixed-use developments combining housing, leisure, and small independent shops

• Retail parks are evolving into shopping and entertainment destinations

• Online and physical shopping are merging, with ‘click and collect’ and app-based services

• Local markets, pop-up shops, and community enterprises are helping rebuild high-street identity