More 'villages' threaten the high street
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain's largest developer of factory shopping centres is to open a further four "villages" in the UK by the end of the decade. The new centres will cost pounds 250m to build and add almost 1 million square feet of retail space, largely out of town.
The developments will fuel concerns that UK high streets will continue to suffer in spite of stricter planning guidelines.
The new centres will open near junction 28 on the M1 between Derby and Sheffield in late 1997, in Ashford, Kent, in 1998 and later in York and Brigend, Wales. Only the Ashford site is in the town centre.
The sites will be developed by BAA McArthur Glen, the joint venture that opened the Cheshire Oaks centre in the Wirral last year. Another is due to open in Swindon next year.
Modelled on the factory shopping concept in the US, the centres let space to high-profile brand retailers such as Timberland and Ralph Lauren who use the shops to sell excess or unwanted stock at lower prices. Other sites are the Clark's Village in Street, Somerset, and Bicester Village, Oxfordshire. Joey Kaempfer, BAA McArthur Glen's chief executive, said: "There is room for around 15 large centres in the UK with the current planning restrictions." He denied that the new developments would undermine local high streets. "Some retailers who open in our centres say their local town centre branches benefit as a result."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments