Last call for the mall? How shopping centres are reinventing themselves
Summary
Many medium-sized shopping centres in the UK, like the Brunel Centre in Bletchley and the Grafton Centre in Cambridge, are struggling with empty shops and closures. Some centres are being redeveloped to include homes, health facilities, or life science centres as they adapt to changes caused by online shopping.Key Facts
- The Brunel Centre in Bletchley opened in 1973 but now has mostly empty units and will be demolished next year.
- The last store in the Brunel Centre, Boots Opticians, will close soon.
- The Grafton Centre in Cambridge has many closed shops, including a former Debenhams and a closed cinema.
- Plans for some centres include mixed-use redevelopment, such as housing and life science facilities.
- Online shopping has reduced demand for traditional retail space in medium-sized malls.
- Larger shopping centres have lower vacancy rates and attract most consumer spending.
- Experts say not all shopping centres will fail; some are still almost fully occupied.
- Milton Keynes City Council supports mixed uses in town centres, including more homes, to boost local shopping.
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