A town centre is the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town. Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations. Public buildings including town halls, museums and libraries are often found in town centres.
Town centres are symbolic to settlements as a whole and often contain the best examples of architecture, main landmark buildings, statues and public spaces associated with a place.
In some areas of Canada, particularly large, urban areas, town centres refer to alternate commercial areas to the city's downtown. These centres are usually located within a large neighbourhood and characterized by medium-high density commercial and residential property; such as Brentwood and Lougheed Town Centres in Burnaby.
The first example in the UK of a purposely planned commercial or town centre is Newcastle's Grainger Town in the 1840s.
As changes in shopping patterns occurred, town centres have been forced to adapt and meet those changes. Comprehensive redevelopment of many British town centres occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, which often resulted in development of larger store formats, often with modernist styles of architecture significantly different from their surroundings.
During the Thatcher government of the 1980s, a change in planning policy allowed competing out-of-town shopping and leisure centres to be developed. Examples include the Metro Centre in Gateshead, the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley, and the Gyle Centre in Edinburgh. Developments of this type have, in a number of places, resulted in a decline in traditional town centres.
The preponderance of chain stores using the same corporate identity, livery and so on in most or all of their outlets has led to a lack of diversity in many towns and cities, with the phrase clone town being used.
Today, there is a focus on the redevelopment of town centres and the creation of a greater mix of uses in the centres. Planning policy focus aims to maintain town centres as vibrant successful places, which are accessible to everyone by means other than the private car.[1][2]
Many town centres have undergone major redevelopment, with environmental improvements and increased retail floorspace. Major town centre shopping malls, such as the Arndale Centre and the Bullring Centre, have also undergone major redevelopment to improve their image.
Cowling, D (1997) An Essay for Today- The Making of the Scottish New Towns 1946-1996
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2005) PPS6- Planning for Town Centres
Scottish Executive (2006) SPP8- Town Centres & Retailing
December 07, 2023
town, centre, other, uses, town, center, disambiguation, town, centre, commercial, geographical, centre, core, area, town, traditionally, associated, with, shopping, retail, they, also, centre, communications, with, major, public, transport, hubs, such, train,. For other uses see Town Center disambiguation A town centre is the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations Public buildings including town halls museums and libraries are often found in town centres Town centre of Kajaani Kainuu FinlandTown centres are symbolic to settlements as a whole and often contain the best examples of architecture main landmark buildings statues and public spaces associated with a place Contents 1 Canada 2 United Kingdom 3 See also 4 ReferencesCanada edit nbsp Town centre of Oakville Ontario Canada In some areas of Canada particularly large urban areas town centres refer to alternate commercial areas to the city s downtown These centres are usually located within a large neighbourhood and characterized by medium high density commercial and residential property such as Brentwood and Lougheed Town Centres in Burnaby United Kingdom edit nbsp Town centre of Neston Cheshire England The first example in the UK of a purposely planned commercial or town centre is Newcastle s Grainger Town in the 1840s As changes in shopping patterns occurred town centres have been forced to adapt and meet those changes Comprehensive redevelopment of many British town centres occurred in the 1960s and 1970s which often resulted in development of larger store formats often with modernist styles of architecture significantly different from their surroundings Other major changes included the development of indoor shopping malls in major towns and cities Examples include the Manchester Arndale Centre the St James Centre in Edinburgh and the Bullring Centre in Birmingham They tended to be constructed in a Brutalist or Modernist fashion reflecting the architectural styles of the period During the Thatcher government of the 1980s a change in planning policy allowed competing out of town shopping and leisure centres to be developed Examples include the Metro Centre in Gateshead the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley and the Gyle Centre in Edinburgh Developments of this type have in a number of places resulted in a decline in traditional town centres The preponderance of chain stores using the same corporate identity livery and so on in most or all of their outlets has led to a lack of diversity in many towns and cities with the phrase clone town being used Today there is a focus on the redevelopment of town centres and the creation of a greater mix of uses in the centres Planning policy focus aims to maintain town centres as vibrant successful places which are accessible to everyone by means other than the private car 1 2 Many town centres have undergone major redevelopment with environmental improvements and increased retail floorspace Major town centre shopping malls such as the Arndale Centre and the Bullring Centre have also undergone major redevelopment to improve their image See also editDowntown City centre Central business districtReferences editNotes Scottish Planning Policy 8 Town Centres and Retailing Scotland gov uk 2006 07 26 Retrieved 2012 12 25 Planning Policy Statement 6 Planning for Town Centres PDF 2005 Archived from the original PDF on 2007 02 05 Retrieved 2012 12 25 This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Bibliography Ayris I 1997 A City of Palaces Cowling D 1997 An Essay for Today The Making of the Scottish New Towns 1946 1996 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2005 PPS6 Planning for Town Centres Scottish Executive 2006 SPP8 Town Centres amp Retailing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Town centre amp oldid 1161658199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
