Retail decline and policy responses in district shopping centres

There are relatively few published case studies of decline in district shopping centres in Britain. There is also a dearth of discussion about appropriate policy responses to district-centre decline. This paper examines retail decline in Atherstone, a small market town functioning as a district shopping centre in North Warwickshire, and considers the regeneration strategy being implemented. It also provides a wider appraisal of the policy options available for district centres faced with the problem of retail decline and argues that a coherent strategy developed in partnership by the key local stakeholders may be beneficial to some small towns.