Recommendation 102

We were told that the presence of out-of-town retail and leisure centres could have a significant impact on the success of a local high street. In Staines-upon-Thames local business owners were clear that one reason the town centre continued to thrive in comparison with other local high streets was because of a “uniquely tight planning policy” that restricted out-of-town shopping centres. 195 Moreover, Professor Tomaney cited the introduction of an out-of-town shopping centre in Bishop Auckland as having caused the high street to go into “precipitous decline”. 196 Andrew Malley, then Retail Property Director at Dransfield Properties, agreed with this sentiment, suggesting that one of the main things that would disincentivise Dransfield Properties from investing in a town centre would be an established out-of-town retail centre, or plans to introduce one. 197 The Institute for Place Management was also clear that “the vitality and viability of town centres is impacted by edge-of-town and out-of-town development”. 198